Effect of Zinc Nanoparticles on Plant Growth and Some Soil Properties

Abstract

A field experiment with three replications was conducted on sprinkler irrigated sandy soil during two successive summer and winter seasons (summer 2021 and winter 2021/2022), which cultivated with corn (Zea mays) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) at Agricultural Research Station farm in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was cultivated as an indicator crop to evaluate the residual effect of different rates of zinc nutrient in nanoparticles form versus mineral zinc sulphate fertilizer and studying their effects on growth and crop yield and some soil chemical properties. The zinc nutrient forms were applied by fertigation through sprinkler irrigation system. The obtained results revealed that the corn and bean parts dry matter, yield and some soil chemical properties including available soil nutrients content, EC, pH and SOM were greatly improved in general with additions of these nutrients forms. During zinc nanoparticles treatments, the most effective treatment was with the rate of half dose from minerals at recommended dose (ZnNPs at 50% MNRD). Mineral forms in normal recommended dose (MNRD) gave nearly equal effect with ZnNPs at 50 % MNRD.