Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to potassium nano-silica application under drought stress

To investigate the influence of potassium nano-silica (PNS) on maize plant under drought stress including non-stress (NS), moderate drought stress (MDS) and severe drought stress (SDS), a factorial experiment was conducted with completely randomized blocks with three replications. Drought stress decreased the concentrations in the shoot of phosphor (P), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and silica (Si) and nitrogen (N), P, Ca, Fe, Zn, copper (Cu), Mn and Si concentrations of seed. There was an increase in the concentration in the N seed and shoot potassium (K) concentration under drought stress. It was observed that applying PNS increased nutrient absorption. The highest concentration of N in the seed was obtained at 100 ppm PNS. The highest concentrations of seed K and N, Cu, Mn and Si in the shoot were found when 200 ppm of PNS was applied. Applying PNS had no significant effect on the concentrations of P, Ca, sodium (Na) and Cu in the seed, and of Ca and Na in the shoot. These findings demonstrate that the application of PNS can limit the negative effects of drought stress and improve plant's resistance against drought stress.