Synergic Effects of the Microbial Consortium and Amino Acid-Based Growth Promoter in Sunflower Productivity Under Water-Deficit Conditions

Water deficit is a global problem, restricting worldwide food production, and climate change has exacerbated these conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of the combined inoculation with the microbial consortium and foliar spraying with a mixture of amino acid-based growth promoter in improving morpho-physiological and productive responses of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under water-deficit conditions. The field experiment involved three microbial consortium (MC) concentrations (MC-uninoculated, MC inoculation at 100 mL m−2, MC inoculation at 200 mL m−2), and two mixture of amino acid-based growth promoter (AAGB) doses (AAGB at 0.25 and AAGB at 0.50 L ha−1) in a split-plot design with five replications for improving sunflower growth, physiological and yield responses under water-deficit conditions. The findings of this study highlight the synergic role between microbial consortium and foliar spraying of a mixture of amino acid-based growth promoter in regulating the drought-stress response of sunflower, suggesting that they are involved in morphophysiological responses, thereby increasing sunflower productivity and quality. Lastly, the use of the best strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of water deficit could permit new management alternatives to increase food production and sustainable agriculture.