Abstract
Nano-fertilizers of essential plant nutrients, including micronutrients, have the potential to improve nutrient use efficiency and productivity of field crops in deficient soils. The present study reports the comparative influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and bulk Zn salt (ZnSO4) on the growth, yield, and quality of fodder maize (Zea mays) (var. J-1006) cultivated under field conditions in the year 2019. Three levels (0, 20, and 40 mg L−1) of Zn fertilizers were used for seed priming and coating in triplicate following the randomized complete block design model. An increase in vegetative and yield parameters (number of plants, plant height, stover yield, plant biomass), acid detergent fiber (ADF%), and hemicellulose contents and shoot zinc (Zn) content on treatment of seeds with ZnONPs (20 mg L−1) concentration as compared to bulk ZnSO4 and control treatments was observed. The application of ZnONPs (40 mg L−1) significantly enhanced the total chlorophyll content, available soil nitrogen and phosphorus, neutral detergent fiber (NDF%), and cellulose contents and improved the total soil microbial counts and soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities), whereas a significant increase in available soil potassium and zinc contents was recorded under ZnONPs (20 mg L−1) treatments. These findings suggest an encouraging effect on the growth and yield attributing characteristics of fodder maize after ZnONPs seed coating at low concentration. Furthermore, ZnONPs seed coating can also be considered an effective tool for the delivery of Zn micronutrient to fodder maize crop.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.), a high nutrient demanding crop, requires balanced nutrition, the requirement for micronutrients such as zinc is substantial [1,2]
The characteristic light–matter interaction properties of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were characterized through UV-Visible spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier TransformInfra Red spectroscopy analysis equipped with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) assembly
The ZnONPs synthesized through the wet chemistry technique exhibited particles with quasi-spherical to irregular shapes, well-defined margins, and predominant size dimensions ranging from 10 to 40 nm (Figure 1a,b) though larger particles of size 60 to 120 nm were observed
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.), a high nutrient demanding crop, requires balanced nutrition, the requirement for micronutrients such as zinc is substantial [1,2]. The Zn requirement for improved plant growth and development is well established [2]. It plays a vital role in the production of biomass through its influence on diverse physiological and metabolic processes such as chlorophyll formation, fertilization, and germination [4]. Zn is required as a precursor for the synthesis of the auxin phytohormone [7] and has a role in the promotion of vegetative growth in plants. These studies invariably establish the benefits and the requirement of Zn for plants. Zn deficiency will lead to cessation or improper functioning of various metabolic and physiological processes in crop plants
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