University of Texas researcher develops spray for tomatoes in saline soil

Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso have developed an affordable foliar spray designed to help tomato plants survive in saline soils. The study, led by assistant professor of chemistry Hamidreza Sharifan, Ph.D., addresses the growing threat of soil salinity, which affects over 3.2 million square miles of land globally and threatens 20% to 30% of irrigated agricultural land.

The treatment consists of a two-part solution combining manganese oxide nanoparticles with chitosan, a natural biopolymer derived from crustacean shells. When applied directly to the leaves, the spray significantly mitigates the damage caused by high salt levels, which typically prevent roots from absorbing water and lead to nutrient deficiencies. Given that global tomato production reached approximately 192 million tonnes in 2023, this low-cost solution could offer a practical tool for maintaining food security in arid and semi-arid regions.