Drought
A prolonged period of abnormally low precipitation leading to a water deficit in the soil and significant stress or crop failure in agricultural systems.
Также говорят: water stress, moisture deficit, dry spell, aridity
Drought is one of the most destructive abiotic stressors in agriculture, directly impacting cellular turgor and nutrient uptake. During severe episodes, crop metabolic activities slow down or halt entirely, which can lead to irreversible damage to vascular tissues and reproductive organs.
Farmers mitigate these risks by employing conservation tillage practices, cover cropping, and optimized irrigation management. Selecting drought-tolerant genotypes is essential for ensuring yield stability in arid and semi-arid regions.
A common mistake is the over-application of fertilizers during dry spells, which increases the salt concentration in the root zone and exacerbates moisture stress. Furthermore, delaying weed control often leads to unnecessary competition for the limited water remaining in the soil profile.