EFFECT OF NANOSCALE ZINC OXIDE PARTICLES ON THE YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF MAIZE
Loading...
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Revealing biological effects of nanoscale materials, especially in plants, is an important research area in bio-nanotechnology. Evaluation of the effects of nanoscale materials on agricultural crops is currently under exploitation. The present investigation was initiated considering the micronutrient deficiencies in the food crops especially the zinc. From the human health point of view, the enrichment of cereal grains with zinc is a desired outcome and in recent days there is an increasing interest in making the cereal grains with optimum zinc concentration. In the present study maize was selected as a test crop. Nano ZnO particles were prepared using modified oxalate decomposition method. As prepared ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using the techniques viz., UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and zeta potential analyzer. The mean size of the particles was found to be 25nm. A series of concentrations (50,100,200,400,600,800,1000,1500,2000ppm) of nano ZnO particles were examined to know the effect of nano zinc oxide particles on the germination, growth and development, yield and yield attributes of maize along with the bulk ZnSO4 and control. The highest germination percentage (80%) and seedling vigor index (1923.20) were observed at the 1500 ppm of nano ZnO particles whereas at the field level the physiological parameters such as plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and dry weight were significantly influenced by 400 ppm of nano ZnO particles. The yield (42% more when compared to the control and 15% higher compared to the ZnSO4 @ 2000 ppm) and yield attributes like cob length, number of rows cob-1, number of grains row-1 and test weight of maize grains were also highly influenced by the foliar application of nano ZnO particles (400 ppm). ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrophotometer) analysis revealed the higher accumulation of zinc in the grains (35.96 mg kg-1; 37% and 29% higher than control and bulk ZnSO4 @ 2000 ppm respectively) with the application of 100 ppm followed by 400 ppm (31.05 mg kg-1) of nano ZnO particles due to the net
remobilization of zinc from the leaves to the grains during grain filling period; whereas at higher concentrations the zinc accumulation in the grains was low because of membrane saturation with Zn at higher concentrations. These results indicate that the nano ZnO particles have significant effects on the growth, development, yield enhancement of agricultural crops, maize in particular, and also enhances the zinc content of grains which is an utmost important feature in terms of human health perspective.
Description
Keywords
Citation
102p.