Nano-Fertiliser Production, Application and Impact on Crop Yield

摘要

Currently nanotechnology is a new dynamically developing industry exceeding the impact of the industrial revolution. Although in recent years remarkable progress has been made in developing nanotechnology, but it is still unexplored in the field of agriculture. An attempt has been made in this article to introduce different nano-fertilisers and their impact on crop yield. Rock phosphate (RP) samples were collected from Jamarkotra, Udaipur and nano rock phosphate (<100 nm) was prepared by top down approach through a high energy ball mill. A series of solution culture experiments conducted with maize and barley crops clearly established that P from nano rock phosphate particles can easily be taken up by the crops and enhanced the crop growth. Pot culture experiment conducted with coated seeds with nano scale (<100 nm) ZnO powder @ 25 mg Zn/g seed and @ 50 mg Zn/g seed also revealed that the crop growth with ZnO coated seeds were similar to that observed with soluble Zn treatment applied as ZnSO4.7H2O (@ 2.5 ppm Zn). Application of CuO nano particle (< 50 nm) to maize plant also increased the growth in comparison to control plant. Maize seed soaked with MgO nano articles (<50 nm) (1000 ppm Mg) enhanced the chlorophyll content and crop growth. Overall the present investigations support the usefulness and effectiveness of nano-fertiliser to enhance crop growth and yield.