protein levels and iron content of rhizome (Siva and Benita 2016). Studies
established that iron oxide nanoparticles act as effective agents that promote chlorophyll biosynthesis (Ghafariyan et al. 2013).
Zeolite-based nanofertilizers release nutrients slowly and increase their availability to plants. They also prevent losses of nutrient such as NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N from
denitrification, volatilization, leaching, and fixation in the soil. Seeds of Linum
usitatissimum treated with nanofertilizer showed increased fertilizer absorption.
Application of anatase nanoparticles to seeds and spray to seedlings at the rate of
0.25% increased nitrate and protein content in Spinacia oleracea. The increase could
be due to increase in the activity of enzymes such as nitrate reductase, glutamate
dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Addition of
hydroxyapatite nanoparticles at the rate of 21.8 mg/l to the growth medium enhanced
growth in Glycine max (Lu et al. 2002). Increase in seed yield and dry biomass
production has been noted in these plants.
Nanomaterials also showed a good potential to support plant growth in stress
conditions particularly salt stress (Siddiqui et al. 2014). MWCNTs enter the plant
cells under conditions of salt stress. They exert positive effect on growth of NaCltreated plants by increasing water uptake and net rate of CO 2 assimilation.
MWCNTs induce change in the lipid composition, rigidity, and permeability of
the root plasma membranes in salt-stressed plants. Aquaporin transduction improves
water uptake and transport in these plants, thus curtailing the negative effects of salt
stress. An increase in height, number of leaves per plant, number of fruits, fresh and
dry weight, yield/plant, and total yield (t/ha) have been noted in plants treated with
SiO2 nanofertilizers in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (Yassen et al. 2017). Foliar
spray of SiO2 nanoparticle at rate of 60 mg/l induced a significant increase in growth
of plants. Growth and dry matter production increased in cotton plants treated with
nano-zinc under salinity stress conditions (Hussein and Abou-Baker 2018). The
formulations of composite multinutrient nanofertilizers reduced effect of drought by
increasing shoot length and grain yield. The formulations increased shoot length and
nitrogen, potassium, zinc, boron, and copper content of grain. The micronutrients
reduce the effects of drought in plants by boosting their growth performance via
increase in uptake of macronutrient such as N and P (Dimkpa et al. 2017).
10.4 Summary
Nanofertilizers composed of nanoparticles have shown their potential to act as
effective plant growth promoting agents. They act as smart delivery systems that
maintain balance in the supply of nutrients to the plants. They promote growth in
plants by increasing the nutrient uptake and reducing the pathogens infection in
plants. Their application besides increasing crop growth improves yield and quality
parameters. Application of nanofertilizers leads to increase in the production of
photosynthates, dry matter and yield in crop plants. Indirectly these fertilizers help
in achieving agricultural sustainability by reducing the input of harmful chemical
fertilizers. The concentration and doses of nanofertilizers need to be optimized for
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
237
established that iron oxide nanoparticles act as effective agents that promote chlorophyll biosynthesis (Ghafariyan et al. 2013).
Zeolite-based nanofertilizers release nutrients slowly and increase their availability to plants. They also prevent losses of nutrient such as NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N from
denitrification, volatilization, leaching, and fixation in the soil. Seeds of Linum
usitatissimum treated with nanofertilizer showed increased fertilizer absorption.
Application of anatase nanoparticles to seeds and spray to seedlings at the rate of
0.25% increased nitrate and protein content in Spinacia oleracea. The increase could
be due to increase in the activity of enzymes such as nitrate reductase, glutamate
dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Addition of
hydroxyapatite nanoparticles at the rate of 21.8 mg/l to the growth medium enhanced
growth in Glycine max (Lu et al. 2002). Increase in seed yield and dry biomass
production has been noted in these plants.
Nanomaterials also showed a good potential to support plant growth in stress
conditions particularly salt stress (Siddiqui et al. 2014). MWCNTs enter the plant
cells under conditions of salt stress. They exert positive effect on growth of NaCltreated plants by increasing water uptake and net rate of CO 2 assimilation.
MWCNTs induce change in the lipid composition, rigidity, and permeability of
the root plasma membranes in salt-stressed plants. Aquaporin transduction improves
water uptake and transport in these plants, thus curtailing the negative effects of salt
stress. An increase in height, number of leaves per plant, number of fruits, fresh and
dry weight, yield/plant, and total yield (t/ha) have been noted in plants treated with
SiO2 nanofertilizers in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (Yassen et al. 2017). Foliar
spray of SiO2 nanoparticle at rate of 60 mg/l induced a significant increase in growth
of plants. Growth and dry matter production increased in cotton plants treated with
nano-zinc under salinity stress conditions (Hussein and Abou-Baker 2018). The
formulations of composite multinutrient nanofertilizers reduced effect of drought by
increasing shoot length and grain yield. The formulations increased shoot length and
nitrogen, potassium, zinc, boron, and copper content of grain. The micronutrients
reduce the effects of drought in plants by boosting their growth performance via
increase in uptake of macronutrient such as N and P (Dimkpa et al. 2017).
10.4 Summary
Nanofertilizers composed of nanoparticles have shown their potential to act as
effective plant growth promoting agents. They act as smart delivery systems that
maintain balance in the supply of nutrients to the plants. They promote growth in
plants by increasing the nutrient uptake and reducing the pathogens infection in
plants. Their application besides increasing crop growth improves yield and quality
parameters. Application of nanofertilizers leads to increase in the production of
photosynthates, dry matter and yield in crop plants. Indirectly these fertilizers help
in achieving agricultural sustainability by reducing the input of harmful chemical
fertilizers. The concentration and doses of nanofertilizers need to be optimized for
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
237