Exogenous Application of Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) Improves Drought Tolerance in Plants: A Review
Saira Sulaman, Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Shabaan, S. Orman, Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq, Usman Zulfiqar
Abstract
Abstract With rising climate anomalies and deterioration of ecological balance, water shortage has emerged as a major environmental problem faced by mankind, which has considerably limited agricultural productivity worldwide. Drought stress generates an insidious hazard by destabilizing global hydrological cycle and due to its increased frequency, severity and associated adverse impacts on climate conditions, drought has obtained attention world over. Exposure to severe and acute drought stress disturbs physiological functioning of plants and inhibits the efficiency of photosynthetic system. As a result, lesser photosynthate production causes lower plant biomass and yield. Hence, it is imperative to sustain and improve plant growth and productivity under water shortage conditions to minimize its dreadful impacts. Current review summarizes the adverse impacts of drought stress on various agricultural crops, its alleviation strategies and various adaptations encountered by plants under drought stress. More importantly, current review emphasizes the beneficial roles played by macronutrients such as nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in alleviating the adverse impacts of drought stress. As these essential nutrients have reportedly been involved in alleviating the negative impacts of drought stress on plant growth and therefore, major information in the current review article revolves around the N and K supply to the plant under drought stress. In addition, current review necessitates the use of optimum doses of N and K fertilizers to ensure maximum resource utilization efficiency and increased drought resilience.