Water stress in plants a silent enemy
Water stress, also known as physiological drought, is a condition that affects plants when they do not have sufficient access to water to meet their physiological needs. This phenomenon, which is becoming more and more frequent due to climate change and inappropriate agricultural practices, is becoming a silent enemy of plant growth, productivity and survival.
Plants subjected to water stress present a series of visible symptoms that alert about their state of health. Among the most common we find, wilting, the leaves and stems become flaccid and lose turgor due to the decrease in the water content in their cells discoloration of the leaves may turn a yellowish-green or brown color, indicating a reduction in chlorophyll and photosynthesis, leaf and flower fall plants may shed their leaves and flowers as a survival mechanism to reduce water loss, stunted growth, the development of the plant is slowed down or stopped, affecting both the size and the quality of the fruits.
Water stress in plants can be caused by various factors, both environmental and management, such as drought due to lack of rainfall or irregular distribution of rainfall, soil salinity a high content of salts in the soil hinders the absorption of water by the roots, high temperatures that increase the transpiration rate of plants, increasing the demand for water and inappropriate agricultural practices such as deficient, excessive irrigation or at inappropriate times can generate water stress in crops.
Water stress in plants goes beyond the visible symptoms, this phenomenon has a significant impact on the physiology, growth, productivity and quality of crops causing the following:
- Reduction of photosynthesis: The lack of water affects the production of chlorophyll and the capture of sunlight, decreasing the rate of photosynthesis and the production of energy for the plant.
- Alteration of metabolism: Water stress alters the absorption and transport of nutrients.
- Decreased yield: Water stress reduces the size, quality and quantity of fruits, negatively affecting crop productivity.
- Plant death: In severe cases of prolonged water stress, plants can die due to dehydration and failure of their vital functions.
Dear readers, there are various strategies to prevent or mitigate water stress in plants and thus protect the health, growth and productivity of crops, select species tolerant to drought conditions or with greater water retention capacity in their tissues, improve irrigation practices by implementing efficient irrigation systems that optimize water use and ensure uniform distribution in the soil, manage the soil well through practices such as the incorporation of organic matter, use of appropriate fertilizers that favor the development of the root system and the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants.
Water stress is a growing challenge that threatens food security and the sustainability of agricultural systems. Implementing appropriate water and soil management strategies, along with the selection of tolerant species and the use of sustainable agricultural practices, are key to mitigating the negative effects of water stress.
| Bibliographic references |
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- Urbano, P. (2008). Phytotechnics, plant production engineering. Mundi-prensa, Madrid: Spain.
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