Agronomic Investigation of Spray Dispersion of Metal-Based Nanoparticles on Sunflowers in Real-World Environments

Abstract

In environmental and agronomic settings, even minor imbalances can trigger a range of unpredicted responses. Despite the widespread use of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) and new bio-nanofertilizers, their impact on crop production is absent in the literature. Therefore, our research is focused on the agronomic effect of spray application of gold nanoparticles anchored to SiO2 mesoporous silica (AuSi-NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) on sunflowers under real-world environments. Our findings revealed that the biosynthetically prepared AuSi-NPs and ZnO-NPs were highly effective in enhancing sunflower seasonal physiology, e.g., the value of the NDVI index increased from 0.012 to 0.025 after AuSi-NPs application. The distribution of leaf trichomes improved and the grain yield increased from 2.47 t ha−1 to 3.29 t ha−1 after ZnO-NPs application. AuSi-NPs treatment resulted in a higher content of essential linoleic acid (54.37%) when compared to the NPs-free control (51.57%), which had a higher determined oleic acid. No NPs or residual translocated metals were detected in the fully ripe sunflower seeds, except for slightly higher silica content after the AuSi-NPs treatment. Additionally, AuSi-NPs and NPs-free control showed wide insect biodiversity while ZnO-NPs treatment had the lowest value of phosphorus as anti-nutrient. Contradictory but insignificant effect on physiology, yield, and insect biodiversity was observed in Fe3O4-NPs treatment. Therefore, further studies are needed to fully understand the long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability of NPs applications.

Exploring the Impact of Metal-Based Nanofertilizers: A Case Study on Sunflower Pollen Morphology and Yield in Field Conditions

“…In the 2019 growing season at the experimental site, a statistically significant increase in yield was observed with the application of ZnO-NPs compared to the NP-free control (Table 8). While the other applied variants, specifically AuSi-NPs and Fe 3 O 4 -NPs, showed a positive trend toward higher yields, these differences did not reach statistical significance [60]. In the 2020 growing season, a statistically significant increase in yield was recorded with the application of TiO 2 -NPs and ZnSO 4 compared to the control (Table 8).…”

“…Synthetic Fe 3 O 4 -NPs were prepared and stabilized in a citrate buffer as magnetite mineral, with an applied concentration of 76 mg•L −1 , following the methodology of Domingo et al [59]. Physico-chemical and crystallographic characteristics of Fe 3 O 4 -NPs are detailed in a study performed by Ernst et al [60].…”

“…In terms of its petrological composition, the nearby area is characterized by the presence of leucocratic granites, Mesozoic limestones, Neogene sediments, and Quaternary alluvial sediments [64]. The soil mineral composition, determined through X-ray diffraction analysis, is predominantly composed of quartz, muscovite, and anorthite [60]. Soils are classified as silt loam haplic Luvisols [65].…”

“…s.r.o., Hradec Králové, Czech Republic). Sunflower yield was conveniently calculated in tons per hectare (t•ha −1 ) according to the methodology proposed by Ernst et al [60]. Statistical analysis of sunflower yields for all variants was conducted using TIBCO Statistica ® , version 14.0 (TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) [69].…”

Seasonal Dynamics of Epigeic Arthropods under the Conditions of Ecological Management of the Triticum aestivum Crop

“…Additionally, they contribute to the fragmentation and decomposition of toxic and waste substances, ensuring balance in ecosystems [10][11][12]. Some epigeic arthropods are sensitive to changes in soil quality and overall shifts in agroecosystems, making them vital contributors to the direction of a sustainable economy [13][14][15]. They also play a crucial role in ecosystem services that impact agroecosystems.…”