Abstract
Abstract The current study aimed to investigate biofortification of maize grown under different irrigation intervals, i.e. 15, 20 and 25 days (hereinafter referred to as IR15, IR20 and IR25, respectively), using foliar application treatments (silicon (Si), zinc (Zn), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), Si + Zn, Si + AgNPs, Zn + AgNPs and Si + Zn + AgNPs) in two growing seasons, 2020 and 2021. A split-plot design with four replications was used, where irrigation intervals and foliar treatments were assigned in main plots and subplots, respectively. IR15 received a total of 7925 m 3 /ha irrigation water divided over seven irrigations, while IR20 received 5690 m 3 /ha divided over five irrigations and IR25 received 4564 m 3 /ha divided over four irrigations. The highest yield and grain quality were observed in plants irrigated at 15-day intervals. Spraying the canopy with Si, Zn and AgNPs, either individually or in combination, reduced the negative impact of water stress caused by longer irrigation intervals on plant growth, yield, yield components and grain protein content. In IR15 + AgNPs + Zn, most of the studied parameters, except for proline content, showed a high positive impact, especially on 100-kernel weight (KW). In contrast, IR25 + Si + AgNPs + Zn showed the highest positive effects on proline and protein contents but a negative impact on the harvest index. Collectively, IR15 + Si + AgNPs + Zn resulted in the highest values of all studied parameters, followed by IR15 + Si + AgNPs and IR15 + Si + Zn. In conclusion, our results suggest that an irrigation interval of 15 days combined with application of Si, Zn and AgNPs has the potential to improve yield and quality of maize under water deficit stress.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Fifteen-day irrigation produced the highest yield and grain quality.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest yield and grain quality were observed in plants irrigated at 15-day intervals.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Si spray reduced the water-stress penalty on growth, yield, yield components and grain protein.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Spraying the canopy with Si, Zn and AgNPs, either individually or in combination, reduced the negative impact of water stress caused by longer irrigation intervals on plant growth, yield, yield components and grain protein content.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Zn spray reduced the water-stress penalty on maize traits.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Spraying the canopy with Si, Zn and AgNPs, either individually or in combination, reduced the negative impact of water stress caused by longer irrigation intervals on plant growth, yield, yield components and grain protein content.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
AgNP spray reduced the water-stress penalty on maize traits.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Spraying the canopy with Si, Zn and AgNPs, either individually or in combination, reduced the negative impact of water stress caused by longer irrigation intervals on plant growth, yield, yield components and grain protein content.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
IR15 with AgNPs and Zn benefited most measured parameters, especially kernel weight, except proline.
- Treatment
- IR15 + AgNPs + Zne0
- Outcome
- 100-kernel weighte0
- Direction
- high positive impacte0
- Qualifier
- except for proline contente0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In IR15 + AgNPs + Zn, most of the studied parameters, except for proline content, showed a high positive impact, especially on 100-kernel weight (KW).”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
IR25 with Si, AgNPs and Zn increased proline and protein content.
- Treatment
- IR25 + Si + AgNPs + Zne0
- Outcome
- proline and protein contentse0
- Direction
- highest positive effectse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“IR25 + Si + AgNPs + Zn showed the highest positive effects on proline and protein contents but a negative impact on the harvest index.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
IR25 with Si, AgNPs and Zn reduced the harvest index.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“IR25 + Si + AgNPs + Zn showed the highest positive effects on proline and protein contents but a negative impact on the harvest index.”
t0“maize growth”
Claim · model-written summary
IR15 with Si, AgNPs and Zn gave the highest values across studied parameters.
- Treatment
- IR15 + Si + AgNPs + Zne0
- Outcome
- all studied parameterse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Comparator
- IR15 + Si + AgNPs and IR15 + Si + Zne0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“IR15 + Si + AgNPs + Zn resulted in the highest values of all studied parameters, followed by IR15 + Si + AgNPs and IR15 + Si + Zn.”
t0“maize growth”
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