TY - JOUR
T1 - Lettuce plants resistant to drought stress
T2 - effects of white willow plant material applications
AU - Halshoy, Hawar Sleman
AU - Talabani, Shahen Kamil
AU - Mohammed Ali, Deedar Jumaah
AU - Rasul, Kamaran Salh
AU - Braim, Shwana Ahmed
AU - Hama, Jawameer R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Drought stress poses a significant challenge to global agriculture; finding natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers is crucial for mitigating the effects of water scarcity and enhancing plant growth and productivity. This study evaluated the effects of white willow (Salix spp.) leaf powder (WLP) and extract (WLE) on soil microbes and lettuce plant traits under drought stress. WLP was mixed into the soil (0, 10, and 20 g pot−1), while WLE was foliar-applied (0, 3, and 6 g L−1), either individually or in combination. Under normal watering, soil moisture before planting, plant yield, and biomass were significantly affected. The drought condition increased the dry matter of roots and shoots, as well as unfolded leaves. White willow applications altered phytochemical contents, for example, applying WLP at 10 g pot−1 produced the highest lipid peroxidation (10.21 nmol g−1 FW), and 20 g pot−1 increased chlorophyll (a and b), and proline (11.32 μg g−1 FW). Additionally, 20 g of pot-1 was amended with enhanced fungal colonies before planting. Notably, co-application of 20 g pot−1 WLP and 6 g L−1 WLE resulted in the most favorable traits under drought stress. White willow materials show potential as a sustainable resource for lettuce production under water-limited conditions.
AB - Drought stress poses a significant challenge to global agriculture; finding natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers is crucial for mitigating the effects of water scarcity and enhancing plant growth and productivity. This study evaluated the effects of white willow (Salix spp.) leaf powder (WLP) and extract (WLE) on soil microbes and lettuce plant traits under drought stress. WLP was mixed into the soil (0, 10, and 20 g pot−1), while WLE was foliar-applied (0, 3, and 6 g L−1), either individually or in combination. Under normal watering, soil moisture before planting, plant yield, and biomass were significantly affected. The drought condition increased the dry matter of roots and shoots, as well as unfolded leaves. White willow applications altered phytochemical contents, for example, applying WLP at 10 g pot−1 produced the highest lipid peroxidation (10.21 nmol g−1 FW), and 20 g pot−1 increased chlorophyll (a and b), and proline (11.32 μg g−1 FW). Additionally, 20 g of pot-1 was amended with enhanced fungal colonies before planting. Notably, co-application of 20 g pot−1 WLP and 6 g L−1 WLE resulted in the most favorable traits under drought stress. White willow materials show potential as a sustainable resource for lettuce production under water-limited conditions.
KW - abiotic stress
KW - agronomy
KW - biochemicals
KW - Lactuca sativa
KW - plant-microbe interactions
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105022504524
U2 - 10.1080/03650340.2025.2584561
DO - 10.1080/03650340.2025.2584561
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:105022504524
SN - 0365-0340
VL - 71
SP - 1
EP - 18
JO - Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
JF - Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
IS - 1
ER -