Interactive responses of water-soluble fertilizers to mitigate drought stress effects on wheat (T. aestivum)

Drought stress induced by inconsistency in rainfall lowers the agricultural productivity and necessitates the employment of a drought-tolerance mitigation strategy that involves fertigating plants with a range of biochemicals. The influence of foliar applied exogenous nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and water-soluble fertilizers (NPK) for the reduction of drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated in the current study under field drought stress conditions. The biological yield, yield and yield components, relative water content, chlorophyll content, and leaf osmotic potential of both cultivars were significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced by drought stress. In drought treatments, application of K@2% and water-soluble fertilizer NPK@2% significantly (P <= 0.05) improved these parameters. In drought-stressed plants, the addition of K and water-soluble NPK increased the accumulation of osmolytes and soluble carbohydrates while lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Under drought conditions, water-soluble NPK treatments resulted in a considerable increase in yield in GJW 463. Drought stress alleviation and yield increase in wheat cultivars were attributed to better osmotic adjustment, antioxidant activity and favorable water status under stress circumstances, due to K and NPK treatment. Supplemental fertilization with exogenous water-soluble nutrients K and NPK is an effective way to protect and improve drought tolerance and increase wheat grain output in drought-prone locations. Our results demonstrate that application of exogenous water-soluble NPK as a supplemental fertilizer protects wheat and promotes drought tolerance.