Effect of Zinc Oxide Nano Particle on Physiology Growth and Yield of Ric Sorghum and Wheat

Abstract

newlineAn investigation was initiated at Department of Crop Physiology, UAS, Dharwad, newlineKarnataka to examine the effects of zinc oxide nano particles (ZnO NPs with average particle newlinesize of 44.4 nm) on physiology, growth and yield of rice, sorghum and wheat. A lab newlineexperiment was carried out with different concentrations (100, 200, 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) newlineof nano ZnO and bulk ZnSO4. Further, a pot experiment consisted of twelve treatments newlinecomprised of seed priming (200, 500 and 1000 ppm of nano ZnO and bulk ZnSO4), foliar newlineapplication (200, 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm of nano Zno) and 1000 ppm of ZnSO4 (package of newlinepractice) was carried out. Further, Hoagland nutrient solution culture (hydroponic) experiment newlinewas carried out in rice with four treatments (Full strength Bulk ZnSO4, Full strength Nano newlineZnO, Half strength Nano ZnO and without zinc). newlineResults of lab experiment indicated that, in rice and sorghum nano zinc oxide at 1000 newlineppm and in wheat 500 ppm has increased the seedling vigour. However, the seed germination newlineof all the crops has not been significantly affected with any of the form of zinc with any newlineconcentrations. In pot experiment, there is an increase in grain yield in rice (32%), sorghum newline(9.5%) and wheat (19%) by the foliar spray of 500 ppm NFS and 1000 ppm NFS. Grain zinc newlinecontent in rice was 56 per cent higher in 500 ppm and 10 per cent higher in wheat as newlinecompared to 1000 ppm of bulk foliar spray. Above 1000 ppm of nano ZnO affected the newlineoverall growth and yield. In hydroponic experiment of rice, photosynthetic rate was 19 and 26 newlineper cent higher due to increase in stomatal conductance in HS Nano ZnO when compared to newlineFS bulk ZnSO4 and FS Nano ZnO. Along with this there was 20 and 21 per cent increase in newlineWater Use Efficiency in HS Nano ZnO. Grain zinc content was also significantly increased in newlineHS ZnO (53.6 ppm) as compared to FS ZnO (41.7 ppm) FS ZnSO4 (33.2 ppm). Lipid newlineperoxidation (MDA content) was found higher in plants without zinc followed by bulk FS newlineZnSO4, FS ZnO and HS ZnO. Cell metabolic activity (TTC