Background Vermicompost contains humic acids, nutrients, earthworm excretions, beneficial microbes, growth hormones, and enzymes, which help plants to tolerate a variety of abiotic stresses. Effective microorganisms (EM) include a wide range of microorganisms' e.g. photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and fermenting fungi that can stimulate plant growth and improve soil fertility. To our knowledge, no study has yet investigated the possible role of vermicompost and EM dual application in enhancing plant tolerance to water scarcity. Methods Consequently, the current study investigated the effectiveness of vermicompost and EM in mitigating drought-induced changes in wheat. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with twelve treatments. The treatments included control, as well as individual and combined applications of vermicompost and EM at three different irrigation levels (100%, 70%, and 30% of field capacity). Results The findings demonstrated that the application of vermicompost and/or EM significantly improved wheat growth and productivity, as well as alleviated drought-induced oxidative damage with decreased the generation of superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide. This was achieved by upregulating the activities of several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase. Vermicompost and/or EM treatments also enhanced the antioxidant defense system by increasing the content of antioxidant molecules such as ascorbate, glutathione, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Additionally, the overproduction of methylglyoxal in water-stressed treated plants was controlled by the enhanced activity of the glyoxalase system enzymes; glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II. The treated plants maintained higher water content related to the higher content of osmotic regulatory substances like soluble sugars, free amino acids, glycinebetaine, and proline. Conclusions Collectively, we offer the first report that identifies the underlying mechanism by which the dual application of vermicompost and EM confers drought tolerance in wheat by improving osmolyte accumulation and modulating antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Cotton is a highly sensitive crop to drought stress. Consequently, it is crucial to devise strategies that optimize crop production in conditions of limited water availability. While potassium silicate has demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating drought stress in various crops, its specific impact on different cotton cultivars under drought conditions remains not fully clarified. This research aimed to assess the efficacy of six potassium silicate levels (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg L-1) on four cotton genotypes (Zong main-113, Xin Nong-525, Xin lu Zhong-55, and Xin lu Zhong-66) under two field capacity levels (80% and 50% FC) in a sand culture. Foliar applied potassium silicate significantly improved photosynthetic efficiency, shoot biomass, root biomass, and leaf area under water stress (50% FC). The most substantial reduction in H2O2, malondialdehyde levels, and electrolyte leakage was recorded with potassium silicate applied at a rate of 400 mg L-1. This concentration effectively mitigated reactive oxygen species accumulation, safeguarding plants against oxidative damage at 50% FC. Furthermore, potassium silicate contributed to maintaining water status, resulting in increased leaf water content and elevated water-soluble proteins in cotton plants. The order of drought resistance (50% FC) with the application of potassium silicate at 400 mg L-1 was Zong Mian-113, Xin Nong-525, Xin lu Zhong-55, and Xin lu Zhong-66. The findings could help in selection of drought resistance cultivars of cotton in water limited conditions.