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Abstract
This study investigated the effect of drought stress and growth regulator treatments on the elemental composition of Amaranthus hybridus leaves. The experiment was conducted using ten treatments: Control, DS₅, DS₂₅, DS₄₅ (drought stress levels), DSA₁–₃ (drought + salicylic acid), and DAA₁–₃ (drought + ascorbic acid). The concentrations of four essential mineral elements— magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca)—were analyzed to determine the influence of drought intensity and regulator application on nutrient uptake and accumulation. Results revealed that drought stress alone (DS treatments) led to gradual increases in Zn, Fe, and Ca compared with the control, indicating an adaptive ionic concentration mechanism under water limitation. The application of salicylic acid (DSA₁–₃) and ascorbic acid (DAA₁–₃) further enhanced mineral absorption, with the most significant Zn increase (360 mg/g) recorded under DSA₂. In contrast, DSA₃ and DAA₃ exhibited lower Zn levels (40 mg/g) but maintained higher Fe and Ca concentrations than the control. Magnesium levels remained relatively stable (1.25– 1.42 mg/g) across treatments, suggesting maintained chlorophyll activity and photosynthetic stability under stress. Overall, growth regulator application mitigated the adverse effects of drought stress by improving mineral uptake and physiological performance in Amaranthus hybridus. Ascorbic acid treatments, particularly DAA₂, produced the most balanced enhancement in all elemental contents. The findings demonstrate that moderate application of salicylic and ascorbic acids can effectively enhance drought tolerance and nutritional quality of A. hybridus, supporting their potential use in sustainable vegetable production under water-limited conditions
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