Converting waste into opportunity: silica nanoparticles for mitigating salinity stress in wheat "Triticum turgidum"

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been promising to be a soil additive to improve plant abiotic stress tolerance, including salinity, which has been proven to strongly restrain wheat growth and yield. The present study assessed the effect of SiNPs on wheat growth and physiological performance under salt stress in a replicated pot experiment. Three concentration levels of SiNP (0%, 5%, and 10%) and three salinity levels of irrigation (0, 25, and 50 mM NaCl) were utilized. Plant and soil characteristics like chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake, relative water content, and electrolyte leakage were measured through standard procedures. Chlorophyll and relative water content were decreased by salinity stress, while electrolyte leakage, proline, and total soluble sugars increased. In contrast, SiNP application (5% and 10%) significantly improved chlorophyll content, proline accumulation, soluble sugars, nutrient content, and water retention, but reduced electrolyte leakage. Relative water content increased by approximately 5% upon SiNP treatment. Growth and yield were greatly enhanced, the greatest improvement being in the 10% SiNP treatment. The results show the possibility of SiNPs to neutralize the adverse impact of salinity. More studies may take into consideration the long-term effects, interaction with different soils, and optimum rates of application for sustainable agricultural.