The harmful effects of drought stress on the camelina oil content and fatty acid composition can be alleviated by using potassium silicate

Abstract A factorial experiment with three replicates was designed to investigate the effects of potassium silicate (0, 1, 2 and 3 g L −1 ) on camelina under three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, restricted irrigation from silicle formation and restricted irrigation from the beginning of flowering). Compared with full irrigation, restricted irrigation from the beginning of the flowering and silicle formation stages caused reductions of 5% and 11%, respectively, in the oil content and of 48% and 68%, respectively, in the oil yield (oil content 33% and oil yield 736 kg ha −1 ). The drought stress regimes increased the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, the PUFA/SFA (P/S) ratio and the monounsaturated fatty acid/SFA (M/S) ratio decreased. Under water‐limited conditions, 3 g L −1 potassium silicate significantly mitigated the negative effects of drought stress and increased the oil yield and content. Moreover, spraying 2 and 3 g L −1 potassium silicate increased the PUFA, P/S and M/S but decreased the SFA. Erucic acid, which was increased by the restricted irrigation treatments, decreased in response to potassium silicate application. Overall, the application of potassium silicate is a suitable measure for camelina cultivation under water‐limited conditions, as it mitigates the adverse effects of drought.