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How Biostimulants Mitigate Flood Stress on Crops

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Floods pose a severe threat to crop health, primarily by creating anaerobic or hypoxic conditions in the root zone. This root oxygen deprivation disrupts water and nutrient uptake, weakens plant vitality, and increases susceptibility to diseases. As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, finding effective solutions to enhance crop flood tolerance has become critical for sustainable agriculture.

Biostimulants, an emerging class of agricultural inputs, offer a promising approach. Unlike fertilizers that directly supply nutrients or pesticides that kill pests, biostimulants work by activating and regulating plants’ intrinsic physiological and biochemical processes. They boost crops’ tolerance to abiotic stresses—including waterlogging, drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures—and accelerate recovery after stress.

Contents hide
1 Key Biostimulant Types for Enhancing Flood Resistance
1.1 1. Humic and Fulvic Acids
1.2 2. Seaweed Extracts
1.3 3. Amino Acids and Protein Hydrolysates
1.4 4. Beneficial Microorganisms and Their Metabolites
1.5 5. Other Promising Options

Key Biostimulant Types for Enhancing Flood Resistance

1. Humic and Fulvic Acids

Sources: Derived from decomposed organic matter such as peat and lignite.
Flood-Mitigation Mechanisms:
  • Soil structure improvement: Promote the formation of soil aggregates, enhancing soil aeration and drainage to alleviate root hypoxia.
  • Root growth stimulation: Encourage robust root development, strengthening the plant’s ability to absorb limited oxygen and nutrients under waterlogged conditions.
  • Physiological regulation: Modulate plant hormone levels and boost antioxidant enzyme activity, helping plants counteract oxidative damage caused by waterlogging stress.

2. Seaweed Extracts

Sources: Typically extracted from brown algae like kelp and Ascophyllum nodosum.
Flood-Mitigation Mechanisms:
  • Natural plant hormones: Rich in cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins, which sustain plant growth and vitality, enabling normal development even under stress.
  • Stress tolerance enhancement: Contain bioactive compounds (e.g., alginic acid, fucoidan), amino acids, and vitamins that improve antioxidant capacity and cell membrane stability, enhancing resilience to waterlogging.
  • Soil microbial activation: Alginic acid and other components boost soil microbial activity, supporting soil health and nutrient cycling.

3. Amino Acids and Protein Hydrolysates

Sources: Produced by hydrolyzing animal or plant proteins.
Flood-Mitigation Mechanisms:
  • Direct nutrient supply: Provide readily absorbable amino acids, reducing the energy cost of protein synthesis and maintaining metabolism under stress.
  • Osmotic adjustment: Certain amino acids regulate cellular osmotic pressure, helping plants maintain cell turgor and resist osmotic stress.
  • Chelation: Bind to micronutrients, improving their bioavailability for plants.
  • Signaling molecules: Act as signaling agents to trigger plants’ stress-response pathways.

4. Beneficial Microorganisms and Their Metabolites

Sources: Include bacteria (e.g., Bacillus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Pseudomonas) and fungi (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma).
Flood-Mitigation Mechanisms:
  • Nutrient uptake promotion: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen; phosphate-solubilizing bacteria release bound soil phosphorus; mycorrhizal fungi expand root absorption area—all enhancing nutrient use efficiency under waterlogging.
  • Soil environment improvement: Improve soil structure and porosity, facilitating drainage and aeration.
  • Plant hormone secretion: Some microbes produce hormones that stimulate root growth and plant recovery.
  • Induced systemic resistance (ISR): Trigger non-specific plant defenses, reducing susceptibility to secondary diseases caused by waterlogging.

5. Other Promising Options

  • Chitin and its derivatives: Induce plant defense responses, enhancing overall stress tolerance.
  • Silicon: Though often classified as a nutrient, silicon strengthens cell walls, boosting tolerance to waterlogging and other abiotic stresses.
  • Biochar: While not a biostimulant itself, combining biochar with biostimulants significantly improves soil structure, water/nutrient retention, and aeration—indirectly aiding flood resilience.

By leveraging these biostimulants, farmers can proactively enhance crops’ ability to withstand and recover from floods, safeguarding yields in an era of unpredictable weather. Choosing the right biostimulant type based on soil conditions and crop species is key to maximizing their effectiveness.

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