Fertigation of Ajwain (<i>Trachyspermum ammi</i> L.) with Fe-Glutamate Confers Better Plant Performance and Drought Tolerance in Comparison with FeSO₄

• Main Authors: Qasim Ali, Sumreena Shahid, Shafaqat Ali, Mohamed A. El-Esawi, Abdullah I. Hussain, Rashida Perveen, Naeem Iqbal, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Fahad A. Al-Misned
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: water stress; water relations; antioxidative mechanism; amino acids; seed yield; lipid peroxidation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/7119
• ISSN: 2071-1050

Shortage of fresh water limits crop yield. Different ways including the use of chemicals are being employed for the improvement in yield through induction of plant performance. In the present study, ajwain plants grown under water stress and normal irrigation conditions were fertigated with Fe-chelated glutamate (Fe-Glu), as a foliar spray for the induction of plant performance in comparison with FeSO₄. Water shortage adversely affected the plant growth and seed yield, associated with decreased uptake of water and nutrients, along with perturbations in different physio-biochemical attributes. On the other hand, Fe-Glu and FeSO₄ fertigation improved plant performance under water stress and normal irrigation conditions. Fe-Glu and FeSO₄ fertigation ameliorated the adverse effects of water stress on biomass and seed production, improved water and nutrients uptake, increased the accumulation of essential amino acids, leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids, and reduced the lipid peroxidation due to the induction of antioxidative mechanisms. Fertigation of Fe-Glu and FeSO₄ also improved Fe uptake and conferred better mobility and availability of Fe for plants when applied in chelated form. Overall, a significant improvement in ajwain performance under water stress and normal irrigation conditions was recorded due to the fertigation of Fe-Glu as compared with FeSO₄.