<![CDATA[Drought stress is the primary abiotic constraint that inhibits growth and reduces the productivity of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various concentrations of moringa leaf extract (Moringa oleifera L.) used as a biostimulant and plant-based antitranspirant in mitigating the effects of drought stress on the morphological adaptation and biomass partitioning of upland rice seedlings. The study was conducted in a greenhouse using a two-factor completely randomized design (CRD), where the stress factor consisted of three levels: 100% field capacity (FC) as the control, 60% FC, and 30% FC. The second factor was the concentration of the moringa leaf extract applied via foliar spray, at levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%, respectively. The parameters observed included plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of the seedlings. The results of the analysis of variance and the 5% LSD test showed that the application of moringa leaf extract significantly improved the morphological parameter of plant height and enhanced the plants’ tolerance mechanism to drought stress by regulating root elongation as a mechanism to avoid drought stress. A 7.5% moringa leaf extract concentration was found to be the most optimal, resulting in the highest plant height (23.8 cm), the slowest root length growth rate, and the highest dry weight (0.3144 g) per plant under drought-stressed conditions. The application of a 7.5% moringa leaf extract is recommended to improve the drought tolerance of upland rice and maintain its early growth performance. It is recommended to conduct application trials with higher concentrations.]]>
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