Zinc-oxide and nano ZnO oxide effects on growth, some biochemical aspects, yield quantity, and quality of flax (Linum uitatissimum L.) in absence and presence of compost under sandy soil

Abstract

Abstract Background Nanofertilizers have been provided a new efficient alternative to normal regular fertilizers. Nano-particles can help in increasing reactive points of these nanoparticles, which increases the absorption of these fertilizers in plants. Materials and methods Thus, a field experiment was conducted in sandy soil during two winter seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 at experimental station of National conditions, El-Behira Governorate-Egypt. The objective of this study was the effect of ZnO as normal chelated micronutrient and ZnO as nanoparticle foliar application at rates of 0, 20, 40, and 60 mg/L, with two rates of compost (0.0 and 3.00 ton/fed) on growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, yield, and chemical analysis of flax (Linum usitatissimum L cv., Sakha-2) plants. Results The obtained results showed that adding of compost to the sandy soil by 3.0 ton/fed, increased markedly growth parameters (shoot and root length (cm), fresh and dry weights (g), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and total pigments (μg/g fresh wt)), free amino acids and proline (mg/100 g dry wt), total carbohydrate percentage, yield quantity and quality (technical shoot, fruiting zone lengths and plant height (cm), No. of fruiting branches/plant and No. of capsules/plant, weight of straw (g), weight of 1000 seeds (g), biological yield (kg/fed), seed yield (kg/fed), and straw yield (kg/fed)), oil percentage, and oil yield (kg/fed) compared to control treatments (without compost). Also, the obtained data clarified that applied foliar treatment with normal ZnO with rates 40 mg/L significantly increased the yield and all parameters of flax plant during studied growing seasons. The interaction between compost addition and different concentrations of either ZnO or nano ZnO revealed that different concentrations increased different studied parameters without or with the addition of compost to sandy soil as compared with untreated plants. Conclusion Treatment of flax plant with ZnO and nano ZnO improved the studied growth parameters, biochemical aspects, and consequent yield in the absence and presence of compost.