The aim of this study was to explore some physiological and productivity responses of two chili pepper morphotypes (Capsicum annum L.) exposed to different soil moisture contents. A randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates was used. The large plots (32 m long and 3.2 m width) were 25% ± 2 as the optimum soil moisture content (OSMC), and 20% ± 2 as the suboptimum soil moisture content (SSMC); the small plots (16 m long and 3.2 m width) were two chili pepper morphotypes: Jalapeño and Chilaca, respectively. Jalapeño plants showed more stability in relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic activity (µmol CO₂/m²/s), and a relatively low transpiration (mmol H₂O/m²/s) and stomatal conductance (µmol H₂O/m²/s); therefore, it had a higher number of flowers per plant and number of fruits per plant, consequently recording a high fruit production of 3.94 and 2.99 kg/m² in OSMC and SSMC, respectively. In contrast, the Chilaca chili showed low stability in water relative content (WRC), photosynthesis, and transpiration, going from OSMC to SSMC, as well as showed a lower yield in SSMC; however, all of that was compensated by its size and weight of the fruit per plant, with a yield of 4.95 kg/m² in OSMC. Therefore, the Jalapeño chili pepper could be an option when the irrigation water is limited, and the Chilaca chili pepper when this resource is not limited.

This study aimed to evaluate the response to water deficit of different ecotypes and a variety of Lotus corniculatus on growth, productivity, and yield components, through seasonal times. A randomized block experimental design in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with three replicates was used. The first variation factor was soil moisture contents: field capacity (FC) was 26.5% ± 1.5, and water deficit (WD) was 85% of FC (22.5% ± 1.5); the second variation factor was the ecotypes identified with the codes 255301, 255305, 202700 and 226792 and of the variety Estanzuela Ganador. The best responses in plant cover and weight of accumulated fresh biomass were obtained in the ecotype 202700 under WD, with values of 1649.0 cm² and 583.7 g plant⁻¹, and 1661.2 cm² and 740.1 g plant⁻¹ in ecotype 255305 under FC. The leaf clover was the main component of yield during the summer and autumn seasons. Ecotype 226792 was tolerant to low temperatures during the winter season with better leaf development. Ecotype 202700 is the best option for forage clover production when water is limited, and ecotype 255305 when water is not resource-limited, but these preliminary conclusions need to be confirmed in field studies.

Nopal cladode mucilage is a product of great importance in fodder, agri-food, industry, and health areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three soil moisture contents on some physiological and chemical variables associated with the mucilage yield and quality of three morphotypes of fodder nopal (Opuntia spp.). A randomized block experimental design in a split–split plot arrangement with three replicates was used. The large plots represented the following soil moisture contents (SMC): optimum soil moisture content (OSMC) from 22 to 27%; suboptimum soil moisture content (SSMC) from 16 to 21%; and deficient soil moisture content (DSMC) from 10 to 15%. The subplots consisted of three cactus pear genotypes identified by the following IDs: C-CH, -C-NA, and C-HE. The relative water content (RWC) was significantly higher in the C-HE morphotype across each soil moisture content, and the lowest value was recorded in C-NA with OSMC; -C-CH had the lowest values in SSMC and DSMC, with 71.3% and 44.3%, respectively. There were slight variations in chlorophyll with SSMC; the C-NA and C-CH morphotypes had significantly higher chlorophyll contents, with values of 10.3 mg g⁻¹ 100 FW of chlorophyll a. and 5.87 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW of chlorophyll b. The C-CH morphotype had the best mucilage yield, with 800 mL kg⁻¹ FW and 712.6 mL kg⁻¹ FW in OSMC and SSMC, respectively; DSMC showed the lowest yield at 552.3 mL kg⁻¹ FW. The quality of cladode mucilage by treatment did not vary by soil moisture content or among nopal morphotypes. Additionally, there was a positive correlation among the relative water content and the chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll contents with the yield of the nopal cladode mucilage, but not with the ash content or total solids as variables of mucilage quality vs. yield.

Irrigation water salinity poses escalating threats to agricultural sustainability in degraded agroecosystems. This study has investigated the effects of magnetized versus non-magnetized saline water on the soil physicochemical properties and forage productivity of three Lotus corniculatus L. genotypes (salt-sensitive ecotype 232098, moderately salt-tolerant San Gabriel, and salt-tolerant Estanzuela Ganador) in arid northern Mexico. A split-plot randomized block design with three replicates assigned saline water treatments (magnetized [MWT] vs. non-magnetized [NMWT]) to main plots and genotypes to subplots. After one year of irrigation, MWT significantly attenuated soil salinization, evidenced by 23% lower electrical conductivity (5.8 vs. 7.2 dS·m⁻¹), a 26% reduced sodium adsorption ratio (6.2 vs. 8.4), and a 41% decreased sodium concentration (20.7 vs. 35.4 meq·L⁻¹) compared to NMWT (p < 0.05). Although agronomic traits (stem dimensions, leaf area index, and rhizome proliferation) exhibited salt sensitivity from the third season onward, fresh biomass yield remained unaffected by water treatment. Genotypic differences dominated productivity. Estanzuela Ganador achieved superior biomass in both seasons (288.9 g/rhizome in fall; 184.2 g in winter), outperforming San Gabriel by 15.8% and ecotype 232098 by 56.8% (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that magnetized saline water irrigation effectively mitigates soil salinity progression, while genotype selection critically determines forage productivity under arid conditions. Estanzuela Ganador emerges as the optimal cultivar for saline irrigation systems in water-scarce regions.

Drought and water scarcity are some of the most important challenges facing agricultural producers in dry environments. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of algae extract and zeolite in terms of their biostimulant action on water stress tolerance to obtain better growth and production of tomato Lycopersicum esculentum L. grown in an open field under suboptimum and deficient soil moisture content. Large plots had a suboptimum soil moisture content (SSMC) of 25% ± 2 [28% below field capacity (FC)] and deficient soil moisture content (DSMC) of 20% ± 2 [11% above permanent wilting point (PWP)]; both soil moisture ranges were based on field capacity FC (32%) and PWP (18%). Small plots had four treatments: algae extract (AE) 50 L ha⁻¹ and zeolite (Z) 20 t ha⁻¹, a combination of both products (AE + Z) 25 L ha⁻¹ and 10 t h⁻¹, and a control (without application of either product). By applying AE, Z, and AE + Z, plant height, plant vigor, and chlorophyll index were significantly higher compared to the control by 20.3%, 10.5%, and 22.3%, respectively. The effect on relative water content was moderate—only 2.6% higher than the control applying AE, while the best treatment for the photosynthesis variable was applying Z, with a value of 20.9 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, which was 18% higher than the control. Consequently, tomato yield was also higher compared to the control by 333% and 425% when applying AE and Z, respectively, with suboptimum soil moisture content. The application of the biostimulants did not show any mitigating effect on water stress under soil water deficit conditions close to permanent wilting. These findings are relevant to water-scarce agricultural areas, where more efficient irrigation water use is imperative. Plant biostimulation through organic and inorganic extracts plays an important role in mitigating environmental stresses such as those caused by water shortages, leading to improved production in vulnerable agricultural areas with extreme climates.

La escasez hídrica en regiones áridas y semiáridas limita la sostenibilidad de los sistemas ganaderos, lo que hace necesario evaluar cultivos forrajeros con mayor eficiencia en el uso del agua. Lotus corniculatus L. ha emergido como una alternativa por su valor nutricional y tolerancia a condiciones de estrés ambiental. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el desempeño agronómico de cinco ecotipos y una variedad de L. corniculatus cultivados en condiciones de contenido óptimo de humedad del suelo (COHS) y de contenido subóptimo de humedad del suelo (CSHS) en campo abierto en la región norte de México. Durante la primavera y bajo CSHS, el ecotipo 255301 y la variedad Estanzuela Ganador (EG) presentaron valores significativamente mayores en longitud y número de tallos; asimismo, EG registró el mayor índice de área foliar (IAF) bajo COHS. En verano, los ecotipos 255305 y 255301 mostraron el mejor desempeño en la longitud de tallos y en el diámetro de corona del rizoma (DCR) bajo COHS, mientras que EG destacó en IAF. La producción de biomasa fresca por rizoma (PBFR) en primavera presentó ligeras variaciones entre