Foliar application of SiO2 nanoparticles to increase shallot production under water stress as an effort to mitigate climate change

Global climate change has resulted in environmental stress which has the potential to reduce the production of various agricultural commodities. One of the reasons for the low production of shallot is because cultivated in land with limited water. An effort to minimize the impact of water stress on shallots is to use SiO2 nanoparticles. This study aims to determine the role of SiO2 nanoparticles to increase production of shallot under water stress. This research was conducted at the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture from December 2022 to March 2023, using randomized block design. The first factor is water stress (80%, 60% and 40% field capacity) and the second factor is the concentration SiO2 nanoparticles (0 g/l, 6 g/l, 12 g/l and 18 g/l). The results showed the water stress treatment had significant effect reduced number of tubers and fresh and dry weight of tubers, the application of SiO2 nanoparticles had significant effect increased the number of tubers and fresh and dry weight of tubers. Interaction of application SiO2 nanoparticles and water stress conditions had a significant effect on increased the number of tubers in the combination of 80% field capacity with SiO2 nanoparticles concentration 12 g/l.