Supplemental exogenous NPK application alters biochemical processes to improve yield and drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 2651 - 2662
• Main Authors: Shabbir, Rana Nauman, Waraich, E. A, Ali, H, Nawaz, F, Ashraf, M. Y, Ahmad, R, Awan, M. I, Ahmad, S, Irfan, M, Hussain, S, Ahmad, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Acclimatization; Agricultural biotechnology; Agricultural production; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; biochemical mechanisms; biochemical pathways; catalase; Catalase - metabolism; Climate change; Crop yield; Drought; Drought resistance; drought tolerance; Droughts; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental stress; Experiments; Farming systems; Fertilizers; foliar spraying; Food security; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; growth and development; nitrate reductase; nitrite reductase; Nitrogen; Nutrients; osmotolerance; peroxidase; Peroxidase - metabolism; Peroxidases - metabolism; Phosphorus; Physiology; Plant growth; Potassium; proline; proteins; Research Article; Schools; Seeds; Stress, Physiological; Studies; sugars; Triticum - growth & development; Triticum aestivum; Waste Water Technology; Water - metabolism; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Wheat; yield components; Pakistan; Antioxidants; NPK; Osmoprotectants; Drought; Wheat; NPKc
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5452-0

The recent food security issues, combined with the threats from climate change, demand future farming systems to be more precise and accurate to fulfill the ever increasing global food requirements. The role of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) in stimulating plant growth and development is well established; however, little is known about their function, if applied in combination, in improving crop yields under environmental stresses like drought. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined foliar spray of supplemental NPK (NPKc) on physiological and biochemical mechanisms that enhance the drought tolerance potential of wheat for improved yield. Foliar NPKc markedly influenced the accumulation of osmoprotectants and activity of both nitrogen assimilation and antioxidant enzymes. It significantly improved the concentration of proline (66 %), total soluble sugars (37 %), and total soluble proteins (10 %) and enhanced the activity of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, catalase, and peroxidase by 47, 45, 19, and 8 %, respectively, with respect to no spray under water-deficit conditions which, in turn, improve the yield and yield components. The accumulation of osmolytes and activity of antioxidant machinery were more pronounced in drought tolerant (Bhakkar-02) than sensitive genotype (Shafaq-06).