Enhancing drought resistance in early-stage development of spring soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using trace elements in a dry steppe zone

Wheat, prized for its economic significance, is the predominant crop globally. However, drought stress has emerged as a critical constraint in wheat production, increasingly limiting growth and productivity across major wheat-growing regions worldwide. Therefore, the present study assesses the impact of trace elements silicon, zinc, and manganese on the morphological characteristics of seed germination in spring soft wheat varieties (Taimas, Granny) under both normal and drought stress conditions in 2023. To achieve this, wheat seeds were subjected to varying concentrations of microelements (Si+Zn+Mn) during germination under controlled drought and regular conditions. The most significant beneficial combined effect of the three metals was observed when Si (0.25) + Zn (0.5) + Mn (0.5) was present at a concentration level, resulting in improvements in key germination parameters such as the germination index (GI) and the shoot viability index (SVI). Under drought stress conditions, utilizing the ideal concentrations of trace elements led to a notable increase in germination rates, ranging from 94.07% to 95.23%. The findings indicated that the presence of trace elements resulted in a suppressive impact, which became evident as the concentration of metals increased in the measurements of roots, shoots, and the phytotoxicity index.