University of Texas at El Paso leaf spray boosts tomatoes in salty soils

Scientists at the University of Texas at El Paso have developed a low‑cost leaf spray that helps tomato plants tolerate high soil salinity. The formulation combines manganese oxide nanoparticles with chitosan, a natural material derived from crustacean shells, and is applied directly to foliage rather than the soil.

Greenhouse trials showed that under severe salt stress, treated plants doubled fresh shoot weight, increased root weight by more than 55 %, and exhibited higher chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. The spray does not remove salt from the ground but supports the plant’s own defense mechanisms, offering a potential tool for farmers facing the growing problem of salinized farmland, which threatens 20‑30 % of irrigated land worldwide.

The research was published in the International Journal of Phytoremediation. While results are promising, field trials, economic feasibility, and long‑term safety still need to be evaluated before commercial adoption.