Abstract
Nanoparticles are used in a variety of products, including fertilizer-nutrients and agro-pesticides. However, due to heightened reactivity of nano-scale materials, the effects of nanoparticle nutrients on crops can be more dramatic when compared to non nano-scale nutrients. This study evaluated the effect of nano manganese-(Mn) on wheat yield and nutrient acquisition, relative to bulk and ionic-Mn. Wheat was exposed to the Mn types in soil (6 mg/kg/plant), and nano-Mn was repeated in foliar application. Plant growth, grain yield, nutrient acquisition, and residual soil nutrients were assessed. When compared to the control, all Mn types significantly (p < 0.05) reduced shoot N by 9–18%. However, nano-Mn in soil exhibited other subtle effects on nutrient acquisition that were different from ionic or bulk-Mn, including reductions in shoot Mn (25%), P (33%), and K (7%) contents, and increase (30%) in soil residual nitrate-N. Despite lowering shoot Mn, nano-Mn resulted in a higher grain Mn translocation efficiency (22%), as compared to salt-Mn (20%), bulk-Mn (21%), and control (16%). When compared to soil, foliar exposure to nano-Mn exhibited significant differences: greater shoot (37%) and grain (12%) Mn contents; less (40%) soil nitrate-N; and, more soil (17%) and shoot (43%) P. These findings indicate that exposure to nano-scale Mn in soil could affect plants in subtle ways, differing from bulk or ionic-Mn, suggesting caution in its use in agriculture. Applying nano Mn as a foliar treatment could enable greater control on plant responses.
Highlights
Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient that is required in trace amounts by plants, where it is involved in photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen (N) metabolism
Chlorophyll content over time was determined by SPAD measurements measurements as aa function function of Mn
Applied as a foliar treatment compared to soil application. These findings indicate that nano Mn may
Summary
Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient that is required in trace amounts by plants, where it is involved in photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen (N) metabolism. Mn is involved in conferring tolerance to root and shoot pathogens [1,2,3,4] In accordance with these cellular-level roles, the agronomic benefits of Mn application has been demonstrated in different crops. The advent of nanotechnology and increased inclusion of nanoscale (1–100 nanometer in size) components in various products have included the use of nanoparticles of micronutrients as fertilizers and agropesticides. Recent reviews in this area describe both the negative and positive aspects of nanoparticle nutrients on plant growth and productivity [8,9,10,11,12]. With better understanding and management, the beneficial aspects of nano-enabled fertilizers can become a highly valued tool for addressing the problem of global food security [12,13]
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