Osmotic stress
A condition where plants cannot absorb sufficient water due to high salt concentrations in the soil or drought, leading to wilting and stunted growth.
Также говорят: physiological drought, salt stress
Osmotic stress occurs when the soil water potential is lower than that of the plant roots, preventing water uptake. This is a common challenge in arid regions or areas with high soil salinity.
Agronomists manage this by monitoring electrical conductivity (EC) in both soil and irrigation water. Proper water management and split-application of fertilizers help maintain a stable nutrient environment without creating high salt gradients near the roots.
A major mistake is applying excessive fertilizers during dry weather, which dramatically increases the salt concentration around the root zone. Over-reliance on poor-quality irrigation water without leaching salts is another frequent error.