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Nanoclay, calcium alginate, and composite soil amendments mitigate drought effects on wheat growth and water-use
Ali El-Keblawy1,2,3, Abdelaziz Elgamouz2,4, Mohamed Abdallah5
1Department of Applied Biology, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Introduction:
Water scarcity and increasing drought frequency constrain wheat production in arid and semi-arid regions, highlighting the need for soil-based strategies that can sustain crop performance under limited water availability.
Methods:
This study evaluated the effects of nanoclay (CN), calcium alginate (CG), and CN-CG composite formulations on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. Plants were maintained at 60% water-holding capacity (WHC) under well-watered conditions or 20% WHC under drought. Growth traits, canopy proxy traits, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and spectral indices were measured to assess integrated plant responses.
Results:
Drought markedly reduced shoot fresh weight, canopy proxy traits, and net CO2 assimilation in the untreated control. Under drought conditions, CN (0.5%) showed the strongest buffering effect on canopy development and growth, whereas CNG 31 (0.5%) and CG (0.5%) maintained the highest net CO2 assimilation and instantaneous water-use efficiency relative to the stressed control. Photochemical stress indicators showed weaker treatment-related variation than gas-exchange traits, indicating that the amendments reduced the severity of drought responses but did not fully prevent physiological stress. Type II ANOVA confirmed significant effects of water regime, treatment group, and their interaction on growth traits (P ≤ 0.01), indicating that amendment effects were most pronounced under drought.
Conclusion:
Nanoclay, calcium alginate, and composite formulations attenuated short-term vegetative and physiological drought responses in greenhouse-grown wheat. These findings identify promising amendment candidates for further validation under field conditions, including root traits, dry biomass, grain yield, seasonal water productivity, amendment persistence, and cost-benefit assessment.
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