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IntroductionSalicylic acid has shown promise in alleviating water stress in cultivated plants. However, there is a lack of studies confirming its effectiveness in cowpea plants grown in field conditions. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the use of salicylic acid as a water stress mitigator in cowpea cultivars under different irrigation depths in field conditions.MethodsFour cowpea cultivars (BRS Novaera, BRS Tapaihum, BRS Pujante, and BRS Pajeú) were subjected to different treatments: control (W100: 100% replacement of crop evapotranspiration – ETc), W50 (50% of ETc), W50+SA2 (50% of ETc + 276 mg L-1 of SA), and W50+SA4 (50% of ETc + 552 mg L-1 of SA). The treatments were combined in a 4×4 factorial scheme with three replications, arranged in a randomized block design.ResultsWater restriction had a negative impact on the water status, growth, gas exchange, and production of the cultivars while also leading to changes in the antioxidant metabolism and osmolyte concentration. The application of SA enhanced antioxidant activity and the synthesis of osmotic adjusters under stress conditions. The most effective concentration was 276 mg L-1 in stage R2 and 552 mg L-1 in stage V7, respectively. The BRS Pujante cultivar showed increased productivity under water restriction with SA application, while the BRS Tapaihum was the most tolerant among the cultivars studied.DiscussionIn summary, our findings underscore the importance of using SA to mitigate the effects of water restriction on cowpea cultivation. These discoveries are crucial for the sustainability of cowpea production in regions susceptible to drought, which can contribute to food security. We further add that the adoption of new agricultural practices can enhance the resilience and productivity of cowpea as an essential and sustainable food source for vulnerable populations in various parts of the world.

Increasing population pressure generates a greater demand for food and consumer products, which forces the agricultural sector to optimize the production systems, as well as to use edible and energetic specie cultivars associated with abiotic stress-reducing substances. This investigation aimed to evaluate whether silicon (Si) promotes physiological adjustments, an increase in production, higher yield, and improved quality of naturally colored cotton fibers. Five doses of silicon (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L−1) were tested in a completely randomized design. The variables assessed were physiological, production, fibers yield and quality produced by BRS Safira cultivar. Data were submitted to principal component analysis, multivariate and univariate variance, and multiple linear regression. Silicon promotes physiological adjustments, increased production, and cotton fiber quality. Optimum Si dose varies depending on the variable response. Fiber quality from cotton plants treated with Si is within the expected pattern for this cultivar and the international standard D-4605 of the American Society for Testing and Materials for fiber quality measurement. Therefore, planting BRS Safira cultivar under Si foliar applications may be recommended to improve the naturally colored fiber cotton production chain in the Brazilian semiarid region.

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) é uma cultura que apresenta grande importância socioeconômica a nível nacional e global. A vinhaça é um resíduo orgânico gerado por meio do processo industrial que transforma a cana-de-açúcar em etanol, sendo utilizada como biofertilizante de forma parcial ou total. Contudo, visto o alto custo de distribuição e aplicação de vinhaça, muitas empresas que produzem etanol estão minimizando o volume de água por meio da evaporação, gerando assim a vinhaça concentrada, que com as novas tecnologias pelas industrias sucroenergéticas, tem-se enriquecido a vinhaça com nutrientes essenciais para a fertilização da cultura. Diante desse contexto, o trabalho teve como objetivo demonstrar as recentes descobertas a respeito da utilização de vinhaça concentrada e enriquecida como biofertilizante e seus respectivos efeitos sob a cana-de-açúcar. A vinhaça apresenta cerca de 93% equivalente a água e 7% de sólidos, podendo atuar como biofertilizante por meio da fertirrigação, de modo a beneficiar toda a estrutura do solo. No entanto, visto o elevado custo de distribuição e aplicação desse produto, as empresas produtoras estão diminuindo esse volume através da evaporação, aumento por consequência os teores de potássio, além enriquecerem esse produto com nutrientes essenciais, de modo a realizar uma adubação mais completa e de maior aproveitamento. Assim, a utilização de vinhaça concentrada e enriquecida é uma inovação que sem sendo empregada de maneira constante, oferecendo um produto puro e rico em macronutrientes e micronutrientes para a cana-de-açúcar, tornando-se necessário novas pesquisas.

The association between population increase and the exploitation of natural resources and climate change influences the demand for food, especially in semi-arid regions, highlighting the need for technologies that could provide cultivated species with better adaptation to agroecosystems. Additionally, developing cultivation technologies that employ waste materials is highly desirable for sustainable development. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate whether seed priming with glass waste microparticles used as a silicon source under red light irradiation mitigates the effects of thermal and water stress on seedlings of Moringa oleifera. The experimental design was set up in randomized blocks using a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of seed priming (NSP—no seed priming, and SPSi—seed priming with glass microparticles under red light irradiation), soil water replenishment (W50—50%, and W100—100% of crop evapotranspiration—ETc), and temperature change (TC30°—30 °C day/25 °C night and TC40°—40 °C day/35 °C night). Seed priming with glass microparticles under red light irradiation mitigated the effects of thermal and water stress on seedlings of Moringa oleifera seedlings through the homeostasis of gas exchange, leaf water status, osmotic adjustment, and the antioxidant mechanism.