Affiliation:
1. Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences Amir Muhammad Khan Campus Mardan, The University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan
2. Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Science Indian River Research and Education Center, The University of Florida Fort Pierce FL USA
3. Department of Plant Production College of Food and Agriculture King Saud University Riyadh Riyadh Saudi Arabia
4. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia
5. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education College of Environment, Hohai University Nanjing People's Republic of China
6. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences University of Agriculture Faisalabad Faisalabad Pakistan
7. Department of Agronomy The University of Haripur Haripur Pakistan
Abstract
AbstractBACKGROUNDLow recovery of conventional fertilizers remains a significant bottleneck for maize production globally. In particular, with phosphate fertilization, zinc (Zn) is prone to precipitation in soil, reducing recovery of both phosphorus (P) and Zn by maize.RESULTSThe present study was designed to investigate the synergistic effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) and P on maize crop growth, yield, and nutrient uptake under ZnO seed coating and foliar application in a randomized complete block design. However, plants were subjected to two ZnO NPs levels (0.5 and 12 kg ha−1) amended with two P levels (45 and 90 kg ha−1). ZnO NPs, especially in the form of foliar application, with a P dose of 90 Kg ha−1 significantly (P < 0.05) improved maize crop growth, yield, and nutrient uptake compared with control. In comparison with the control group, plants grown in these conditions absorbed higher levels of Zn and P. Zn uptake rose to 16.34 g ha−1, 137.88 g ha−1, and 166.89 g ha−1 in roots, grains, and stover respectively, and P uptake increased to 0.80 mg kg−1, 10.066 mg kg−1, and 12.17 mg kg−1 respectively. Additionally, seed emergence rate, plant height, and cob length increased by up to 2%, 1177 cm2, and 3.3 cm respectively compared with control. Furthermore, Zn use efficiency was increased up to 38.55% in ZnO NPs foliar application.CONCLUSIONSApplication of ZnO NPs at 0.5 kg ha−1 in the form of foliar application with 90 kg ha−1 P dose produced a more pronounced increment in the parameters studied than ZnO NPs seed coating did. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.