Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes
Abstract The beneficial effects of ammonium nitrate and potassium humate on carrots are well-documented. However, their impact on physiological and biochemical mechanisms under varying irrigation conditions still needs to be explored. Here, we investigated the effects of soil-applied ammonium nitrat...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00690-3 |
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| author | Ayman M. S. Elshamly Ahmed D. S. Abaza Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa Humaira Rizwana Javed Iqbal Shabir Ahmad Rashid Iqbal Nazim S. Gruda |
| author_facet | Ayman M. S. Elshamly Ahmed D. S. Abaza Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa Humaira Rizwana Javed Iqbal Shabir Ahmad Rashid Iqbal Nazim S. Gruda |
| author_sort | Ayman M. S. Elshamly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The beneficial effects of ammonium nitrate and potassium humate on carrots are well-documented. However, their impact on physiological and biochemical mechanisms under varying irrigation conditions still needs to be explored. Here, we investigated the effects of soil-applied ammonium nitrate and foliar-applied potassium humate on the physio-chemical characteristics and water use efficiency of carrot plants under three irrigation levels: 100%, 80%, and 60% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Carrot plants were treated with two rates of soil ammonium nitrate (200 and 250 kg N ha− 1), foliar potassium humate (200 and 400 g 100 L− 1), and four combinations of these treatments. Under 80% of ETc, the combined applications of soil ammonium nitrate and foliar potassium humate significantly influenced the leaf contents of chlorophyll a, nitrate, ammonium, catalase, carbohydrate, and soluble sugar patterns, enhancing osmotic regulation under water deficit conditions. Interestingly, when carrots were irrigated by 100% of ETc instead of 80 and 60% and sprayed with 400 g 100 L− 1 of potassium humate in combination with 250 kg N ha− 1 of ammonium nitrate, water use was decreased by 49.2 and 30.7%, respectively. We attributed that to: a), the observed increments in NH4 concentrations in the leaves under 100% ETc which caused negative physiological impacts on chlorophyll, and b) the change in C/N and N/P ratios. This highlights the importance of choosing a suitable irrigation pattern for carrot crops when the potassium humate in combination with ammonium nitrate is adapted. Overall, using foliar potassium humate at a rate of 200 g 100 L− 1 with soil ammonium nitrate applications at 250 kg N ha− 1 under 80% ETc attained the highest yield and water use efficiency. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-654ef0dfb0db454093433fd6a4aa46d62025-08-20T03:43:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112210.1038/s41598-025-00690-3Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimesAyman M. S. Elshamly0Ahmed D. S. Abaza1Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa2Humaira Rizwana3Javed Iqbal4Shabir Ahmad5Rashid Iqbal6Nazim S. Gruda7Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, National Water Research CenterMinistry of Water Resources and Irrigation, National Water Research CenterDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Botany, Bacha Khan UniversityDepartment of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University IslamabadDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of BahawalpurInstitute of Plant Sciences and Resource Conservation, Division of Horticultural Sciences, University of BonnAbstract The beneficial effects of ammonium nitrate and potassium humate on carrots are well-documented. However, their impact on physiological and biochemical mechanisms under varying irrigation conditions still needs to be explored. Here, we investigated the effects of soil-applied ammonium nitrate and foliar-applied potassium humate on the physio-chemical characteristics and water use efficiency of carrot plants under three irrigation levels: 100%, 80%, and 60% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Carrot plants were treated with two rates of soil ammonium nitrate (200 and 250 kg N ha− 1), foliar potassium humate (200 and 400 g 100 L− 1), and four combinations of these treatments. Under 80% of ETc, the combined applications of soil ammonium nitrate and foliar potassium humate significantly influenced the leaf contents of chlorophyll a, nitrate, ammonium, catalase, carbohydrate, and soluble sugar patterns, enhancing osmotic regulation under water deficit conditions. Interestingly, when carrots were irrigated by 100% of ETc instead of 80 and 60% and sprayed with 400 g 100 L− 1 of potassium humate in combination with 250 kg N ha− 1 of ammonium nitrate, water use was decreased by 49.2 and 30.7%, respectively. We attributed that to: a), the observed increments in NH4 concentrations in the leaves under 100% ETc which caused negative physiological impacts on chlorophyll, and b) the change in C/N and N/P ratios. This highlights the importance of choosing a suitable irrigation pattern for carrot crops when the potassium humate in combination with ammonium nitrate is adapted. Overall, using foliar potassium humate at a rate of 200 g 100 L− 1 with soil ammonium nitrate applications at 250 kg N ha− 1 under 80% ETc attained the highest yield and water use efficiency.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00690-3Drought stressWater use efficiencyWater levelsPhysiologyAmmonium hazard |
| spellingShingle | Ayman M. S. Elshamly Ahmed D. S. Abaza Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa Humaira Rizwana Javed Iqbal Shabir Ahmad Rashid Iqbal Nazim S. Gruda Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes Scientific Reports Drought stress Water use efficiency Water levels Physiology Ammonium hazard |
| title | Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| title_full | Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| title_fullStr | Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| title_short | Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| title_sort | synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth physio biochemical mechanisms and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes |
| topic | Drought stress Water use efficiency Water levels Physiology Ammonium hazard |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00690-3 |
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