Foliar application of Fe₂O₃ nanofertilizer on growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) cv. Pusa Snowball K-1

Abstract

The growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) cv. Pusa Snowball K-1 were studied using Fe₂O₃-nano fertilizer (Fe₂O₃-N) in combination with Azotobacter, Farmyard manure (FYM), and Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Hydrothermally synthesized Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles characterized with XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The experiment consisting 12 treatments viz. T₁ (Fe₂O₃-N), T₂ comprising of Fe₂O₃-N + FYM + Azotobacter + PSB, T₃ (Fe₂O₃-N + Azotobacter + PSB), T₄ (Fe₂O₃-N + FYM + Azotobacter), T₅ (Fe₂O₃-N + FYM + PSB), T₆ (Fe₂O₃-N + FYM), T₇ (Fe₂O₃-N + Azotobacter), T₈ (Fe₂O₃-N + PSB), T₉ (PSB), T₁₀ (Azotobacter), T₁₁ (FYM), and T₁₂ (control). Fe₂O₃ NPs positively enhance the photosynthetic activity and stimulate catalyze enzymatic action in plant leaves that effect the health of the plant and remarkably increase the crop yield. Application of Fe₂O₃-nano fertilizer (Fe₂O₃-N) along the Azotobacter, FYM, and PSB was shown encouraging growth effects to improve the cropping behavior. Fe₂O₃ NPs positively enhance the photosynthetic activity and stimulate catalyze enzymatic action in plant leaves that effect the health of the plant and remarkably increase the crop yield.

STATEMENT OF NOVELTY

This research is a detailed study of nontoxic Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle as nanofertilizers on the cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) cv. Pusa Snowball K-1. Growth of nanoparticles was carried out by environment friendly hydrothermal method. It was found that Fe₂O₃ NPs positively enhance the photosynthetic activity and stimulate catalyze enzymatic action in plant leaves that effect the health of the plant and remarkably increase the crop yield.

The novelty of this work is that nanoparticles are used to enhance the growth and yield of the crop. This research will reflect new point of view toward the nanoparticle as nanofertilizers instead of indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase the yield of crop.

Keywords:

• Fe₂O₃-nano fertilizer
• nanocrystal
• phosphorus solubilizing bacteria

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, Supervision; S.T., Methodology andFormal analysis; A.S., M.K., R., Writing- review and editing; S.T., G.G., and M.S. All the authors have agreed to the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.