such as Au, SiO 2 , ZnO promote growth of plants by increasing uptake of elements
and nutrient use efficiency (Ze et al. 2011; Raliya et al. 2015; Zhao et al. 2013).
Nanofertilizers enhance growth and yield of crop plants (Kah et al. 2018; PonceGarcía et al. 2019). Foliar application of nanofertilizer has proven very effective in
bringing significant increase in yield of crop plants. Increased availability of
nutrients to crop plants brings improvement in quality parameters such as protein,
oil, and sugar content. This occurs due to their enhanced synthesis in plants (Das
et al. 2016). These plants have also shown an increase in metabolic process such as
photosynthesis (Tarafdar et al. 2014; Da Costa and Prabhat 2015). Enhancement in
plant growth after application of nanofertilizer also occurs due to increase in
resistance of plants against diseases and improvement in stability of the plants due
to change in quality parameters such as anti-bending and deep rooting (Adams et al.
2017).
Nanofertilizers also exert significant effect on germination of seed and seedling
growth. The plants applied with NPs such as Au, CuO, and TiO 2 have shown
increase in seed germination rate . Increase in seed germination after application of
calcium phosphate nano gel fertilizer composites has been noted in Oryza sativa,
Arachis hypogea, and Amaranthus spinosus. Application of carbon nanotubes
increases water permeability of the seed coat (Ratnikova et al. 2015; Mahakham
et al. 2017). Nanofertilizers have also shown to improve vigor of seed. Nanofertilizer
induced increase in seed vigor and growth parameters, viz. plant height, leaf area,
leaf area index (number of leaves per plant), and dry matter production has been
noted in plants (Sahaja and Kadiri 2016). Nanofertilizers penetrate into seed and
increase availability of nutrients required for the growth of seedling. This results in
production of seedling that possess improved shoot and root length. High germination of peanut seeds and root growth has been noted after application of nano ZnO
(Burman et al. 2013; Burke et al. 2015). The positive effect of nano-scale SiO2 and
TiO2 on seed germination has been noted in soybean (Janmohammadi et al. 2016).
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were also found efficient in activating
seed germination in several plants (Singh et al. 2018). If nanofertilizer
concentrations above the optimum are applied to plants an inhibitory effect on
seed germination and seedling growth has been noted (Janmohammadi et al. 2017;
Huang et al. 2017).
Application of nanoparticles such as TiO 2 , SiO 2, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
leads to improvement in growth of plants. The plants obtained from seeds treated
with TiO2 showed increase in chlorophyll content which lead to enhancement in
photosynthetic capacity and high biomass production in comparison to plants
obtained from normal seeds (without any treatment). Increase in chlorophyll synthesis increases rate of photosynthesis and this results in production of more
photosynthates and their translocation to different parts of the plant. Improvement
in translocation of photosynthates from source (leaves) to sink (part of the plant like
grain, tuber, bulb, stem, fiber, and leaves) results in production of high yield
(approximately by 30%). Increase in the nutrient availability to plant increases
quality parameters. Treatment with TiO 2 improves light absorbance by plant leaves,
thus leading to an increase in photosynthesis (Ze et al. 2011; Timmusk et al. 2018).
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and nutrient use efficiency (Ze et al. 2011; Raliya et al. 2015; Zhao et al. 2013).
Nanofertilizers enhance growth and yield of crop plants (Kah et al. 2018; PonceGarcía et al. 2019). Foliar application of nanofertilizer has proven very effective in
bringing significant increase in yield of crop plants. Increased availability of
nutrients to crop plants brings improvement in quality parameters such as protein,
oil, and sugar content. This occurs due to their enhanced synthesis in plants (Das
et al. 2016). These plants have also shown an increase in metabolic process such as
photosynthesis (Tarafdar et al. 2014; Da Costa and Prabhat 2015). Enhancement in
plant growth after application of nanofertilizer also occurs due to increase in
resistance of plants against diseases and improvement in stability of the plants due
to change in quality parameters such as anti-bending and deep rooting (Adams et al.
2017).
Nanofertilizers also exert significant effect on germination of seed and seedling
growth. The plants applied with NPs such as Au, CuO, and TiO 2 have shown
increase in seed germination rate . Increase in seed germination after application of
calcium phosphate nano gel fertilizer composites has been noted in Oryza sativa,
Arachis hypogea, and Amaranthus spinosus. Application of carbon nanotubes
increases water permeability of the seed coat (Ratnikova et al. 2015; Mahakham
et al. 2017). Nanofertilizers have also shown to improve vigor of seed. Nanofertilizer
induced increase in seed vigor and growth parameters, viz. plant height, leaf area,
leaf area index (number of leaves per plant), and dry matter production has been
noted in plants (Sahaja and Kadiri 2016). Nanofertilizers penetrate into seed and
increase availability of nutrients required for the growth of seedling. This results in
production of seedling that possess improved shoot and root length. High germination of peanut seeds and root growth has been noted after application of nano ZnO
(Burman et al. 2013; Burke et al. 2015). The positive effect of nano-scale SiO2 and
TiO2 on seed germination has been noted in soybean (Janmohammadi et al. 2016).
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were also found efficient in activating
seed germination in several plants (Singh et al. 2018). If nanofertilizer
concentrations above the optimum are applied to plants an inhibitory effect on
seed germination and seedling growth has been noted (Janmohammadi et al. 2017;
Huang et al. 2017).
Application of nanoparticles such as TiO 2 , SiO 2, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
leads to improvement in growth of plants. The plants obtained from seeds treated
with TiO2 showed increase in chlorophyll content which lead to enhancement in
photosynthetic capacity and high biomass production in comparison to plants
obtained from normal seeds (without any treatment). Increase in chlorophyll synthesis increases rate of photosynthesis and this results in production of more
photosynthates and their translocation to different parts of the plant. Improvement
in translocation of photosynthates from source (leaves) to sink (part of the plant like
grain, tuber, bulb, stem, fiber, and leaves) results in production of high yield
(approximately by 30%). Increase in the nutrient availability to plant increases
quality parameters. Treatment with TiO 2 improves light absorbance by plant leaves,
thus leading to an increase in photosynthesis (Ze et al. 2011; Timmusk et al. 2018).
232
B. Dhir