Water stress management in crops is a constant concern for farmers since water availability is essential for plant growth and production. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, which has led to a decrease in crop yields and increased pressure on water resources.
Water stress has been one of the main challenges facing agriculture in recent years. Water scarcity has led to a decrease in crop yields and affected the quality of agricultural products. According to some studies, water scarcity is expected to be an even greater problem in the future, which could seriously affect food production and food security worldwide (1).
That is why it is important to seek solutions to increase crop resilience to water stress. One of these solutions is the application of biostimulants, which are natural origin products that improve plant growth and health and increase their ability to resist stress.
Biostimulants can help crops manage water stress in several ways. First, they can improve water absorption and retention in plants, allowing them to remain hydrated during prolonged drought periods. They can also increase water use efficiency, allowing plants to grow and develop with less available water.
In addition, biostimulants can stimulate the production of protective compounds in plants, such as antioxidants and heat shock proteins, which help protect them from damage caused by water stress.
The use of biostimulants has been shown to be effective in improving the resistance and adaptation of crops to water stress. For example, a study conducted in Spain in 2018 found that the use of an algae-based biostimulant significantly improved wheat production under drought conditions (2).
Another study conducted in Brazil in 2019 found that the use of an amino acid-based biostimulant increased soybean production by 17% under drought conditions (3).
These results are especially important when considering that water stress in crops has been increasing over the past decade. According to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the number of people suffering from hunger in the world has increased in recent years, and climate change and drought are among the factors contributing to this trend.
In conclusion, biostimulants are a useful and valuable tool to help farmers manage water stress in their crops and increase their resilience in a context of climate change and increasing drought. Biostimulants can improve the ability of crops to tolerate water stress and increase crop productivity under drought conditions.
At Neptunus Biotech, we have developed a line of biostimulant products (Nerthus Line), specific for each stage of crop development. The products of the Nerthus Line are formulated based on marine microalgae, which are specific microorganisms that produce and store energy, biostimulant compounds, and antioxidants that, when formulated, provide a series of beneficial effects on the plant; while regulating crop activity under stress conditions and promoting the activation of photosynthesis, growth, and development.
Thanks to the fact that Nerthus Line products prevent, control, and remedy stress, plants have the ability to express their productive genetic potential.
- “The proper soil management measures, such as bed planting of crops, contour ploughing, bunding, broad bed and furrows, water retention ponds, growing of cover crops, residue mulching and…” URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330158520_Excess_Water_Stress_Effects_on_Crop_and_Soil_and_Mitigation_Strategies Gómez-Merino, F.C., Trejo-Téllez, L.I., García-Sánchez, F., Castillo-Morales, A., Paredes-Páliz, K.I., Rivera-Solís, G., … & García-Galindo, H.S. (2018). Agronomic and physiological responses of wheat