Response of Alfalfa under Salt Stress to the Application of Potassium Sulfate Nanoparticles

Abstract

A greenhouse study was conducted to explore the effect of various rates of potassium sulfate (K 2 SO 4 ) nanoparticles on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth and physiological response under salt stress. One salt-tolerant genotype (Mesa-Sirsa) and one salt-sensitive genotype (Bulldog 505) were selected based on germination under salt and were planted in pots containing 2 kg of sand. The two genotypes were subjected to 0 and 6 dS•m −1 salt levels using CaCl 2 •2H 2 O: NaCl (2:1) mixed with Hoagland solution. Three K 2 SO 4 nanoparticle treatments consisting of, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/10 of the potassium (K) level in full strength Hoagland solution (235 mg•L −1 ) were applied. Adding K 2 SO 4 nanoparticles at the 1/8 level resulted in the highest shoot dry weight, relative yield, root length and root dry weight in both genotypes. The different rates of K 2 SO 4 nanoparticles affected significantly Na/K ratio and the concentrations of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Zinc (Zn) in plant tissue. The application of K 2 SO 4 nanoparticles at the 1/8 rate enhanced the plant's physiological response to salt stress by reducing electrolyte leakage, increasing catalase and proline content, and increasing antioxidant enzymes, activity. These results suggest that the application of K nanoparticles may have better efficiency than conventional K fertilizers in providing adequate plant nutrition and overcoming the negative effects of salt stress in alfalfa.

Influence of Intercropping Cowpea with some Maize Hybrids and N Nano-Mineral Fertilization on Productivity in Salinity Soil

“…Nanoparticles causing many morphological and physiological changes, depending on the properties of NPs. These results are accordance with those obtained by El-Sharkawy et al (2017) who found that nanoparticles at the low level led to the highest shoot dry weight, relative yield, root length and dry weight of roots in used genotypes.…”

“…However, nano fertilizer efficiency depended on size and rate of nanoparticles. Similar results were reported by Mahmoodzadeh et al (2013) and El-Sharkawy et al (2017). Table 7 revealed that ear length, ear diameter, ear grain wt., 100-grain wt., and grain yield/fed were significantly affected by the interaction between maize hybrids and N nano-mineral fertilization in both seasons.…”

“…The magnitude of increased growth variables was most pronounced with low concentration 10% nano-NPK (Abdel-Aziz et al, 2016). Adding K 2 SO 4 nanoparticles at the low level led to the highest shoot dry weight, relative yield, root length and dry weight of roots in used genotypes (El-Sharkawy et al, 2017).…”

“…The NPs efficiency is determined by their chemical composition, surface covering, size, reactivity, and the most importantly is the dose which they are effective (Khodakovskaya et al, 2012). Adding K2SO4 nanoparticles at the low level led to the highest shoot dry weight, relative yield, root length and dry weight of roots in used genotypes (El-Sharkawy et al, 2017). On the other hand, Emara et al (2018) found that foliar application with Nano fertilizer Lithovit at (5g/L water) gave the high productivity of Egyptian cotton variety Giza 86 compared to control and Lithovit at (2.5g/L water).…”

Temporal Impacts of Different Fertilization Systems on Soil Health under Arid Conditions of Potato Monocropping

“…A fertilizer type and rate effect upon soil biochemical properties is well established in the literature by many researchers (Wang et al 2008;Rifai et al 2010;Dinesh et al 2013;Jian et al 2016;Song et al 2019). Founded on this research, it is preferable to integrate organic compost plus NPK nanofertilizers on fertilizers due to the priority of lower rates of nanofertilizers on a full dose of NPK fertilizers (El-Sharkawy et al 2017;Burhan and AL-Hassan 2019). Organic compost supplied readily metabolizable carbon via SOC and DOC; this in turn provides energy for microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus reflecting soil value increases in C mic and P mic .…”