Comparative Study between Traditional and Nano Calcium Phosphate Fertilizers on Growth and Production of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Plants

Abstract

Recently, nanofertilizers are being tested as a new technology, either for soil or foliar applications, to improve food production and with a reduced environmental impact. Nano calcium phosphate (NCaP) was successfully synthesized, characterized and applied in this study. A pot experiment was carried out in two successive seasons in 2016 and 2017 on (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants to obtain the best phosphorus treatments. The results were applied in a field experiment during the 2018–2019 season. Single superphosphate (SSP) at 30 and 60 kg P2O5 fed−1 and NCaP at 10%, 20% and 30% from the recommended dose were applied to the soil. Foliar application involved both monoammonium phosphate (MAP) at one rate of 2.5 g L−1 and NCaP at 5% and 10% from the MAP rate. The results of all experiments showed that NCaP significantly increased the shoot and root dry weights, the nutrient content in the shoot and root, the yield components, the nutrient concentration and crude protein percentage in pods of the snap bean plants compared with traditional P. The greatest increase was obtained from a 20% NCaP soil application in combination with a 5% NCaP foliar application. The present study recommends using NCaP as an alternative source of P to mitigate the negative effects of traditional sources.