Yasman Zilabpour; Mojtaba Barani; Mohammad Rafieinia; Elham Bidram; Mojtaba Yahyaabadi
Abstract
IntroductionNanotechnology involves nanomaterials that are less than 100 nm as an interdisciplinary and pioneering technology has solved many problems in the fields of agriculture. The use of iron nano-fertilizers in order to control the release of nutrients can achieve sustainable agriculture by reducing ...
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IntroductionNanotechnology involves nanomaterials that are less than 100 nm as an interdisciplinary and pioneering technology has solved many problems in the fields of agriculture. The use of iron nano-fertilizers in order to control the release of nutrients can achieve sustainable agriculture by reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers. Nano CDs (carbon dots) are a new system or carbon material between molecule and condensed solid, which gathers the characteristics of nano effect, surface functional groups and carbon elements. Therefore, it shows three basic functions of optics, chemistry and biology, and has multiple functions and applications. In addition, the abundant hydrophilic functional groups on the surface of CDs, small size and other structural characteristics made it show great advantages in promoting crop growth and enhancing photosynthesis and stress resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iron nano carbon dot fertilizer application on vegetative growth parameters of sorghum plant in a calcareous soil.Materials and Methods Iron nano carbon dots were synthesized with lemon juice (carbon source), ethylenediamine and iron sulfate (iron source) by hydrothermal method. Coating of nanoparticles with poly lactic acid was done by co-precipitation method. Characterization of iron nano carbon-dots to confirm the successful loading of iron on the surface of carbon dots and also successful coating was done by UV-VIS, EDAX, FTIR, TEM and SEM device analyses. Some chemical properties of nanocarbon dots such as pH, electrical conductivity and salinity index were measured. Sorghum cultivation was done in the greenhouse of Isfahan agricultural and natural resources research center with a factorial design in 3 replications. The first factor was foliar spraying in three levels (distilled water, iron sulfate and no coating iron carbon dot with a concentration of 3 per thousand) and the second factor was soil application of iron carbon dot (with and no coating) in 5 levels including iron carbon dot, no coating and coated each in two levels (5 and 10 mg Fe kg-1 soil). Foliar spraying of sorghum at the eight-leaf stage was carried out by iron carbon dot and iron sulfate with a concentration of 3 parts per thousand. After the plant growth period (4 months), growth parameters such as the number of leaves, stem height, stem diameter, and fresh and dry weight of stem and leaves were measured. Also, the concentration of iron in plants and soil was also measured.Results and Discussion No coating iron nano carbon dots had 4.98% total iron and polylactic acid coated carbon dots had 1% iron. According to the successful results on carbon dots, they were confirmed with UV-VIS and FTIR devices. Based on the results of leaf number (6/60), stem height (35.52cm), stem fresh weight (24.73 g plant-1), leaf fresh weight (24.39 g plant-1), leaf dry weight (5.37 g plant-1) and the dry weight of the stem (4.73 g plant-1) was related to the interaction effect of no coating iron carbon dot soil treatment with a level of mg Fe kg-1 soil 1 with carbon dot foliar spraying (concentration 3 per thousand). The highest amount of iron in the stem (211 mg kg-1) and leaf (186 mg kg-1) is related to the carbon dot iron soil treatment with a level of 10 mg Fe kg-1 soil and the highest amount in the soil (5.92 mg kg-1). It was related to the interaction effect of iron carbon dot soil treatment coated with polylactic acid polymer (level of 10 mg Fe kg-1 soil) with carbon dot foliar spraying (concentration 3 parts per thousand).Conclusion Among the foliar treatments with iron carbon dot and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, the treatments that were in the group of foliar treatments with nano carbon dot iron had the most positive performance. The treatment of no coating iron carbon dot and then the treatment of iron carbon dot coated with polylactic acid, with level of 10 mg Fe kg-1 soil which simultaneously applied soil and foliar application with carbon dot with concentration 3 parts per thousand showed the best performance. Therefore, these two types of synthesized nano fertilizers are suitable for sorghum cultivation and can be used as a type of iron fertilizer for agricultural purposes.Keywords: Iron nano carbon dot, nano carbon dot coating, sorghum, foliar spraying
Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Elham Mirparizi; Mojtaba Barani motlagh; Alireza Movahedi; REZA GHORBANINASRABADI; Somayeh Bakhtiary
Abstract
Introduction: Among the micronutrients required by plants, iron deficiency has the maximum limitation for agricultural crops. Iron plays an important role in synthesis of chlorophyll, energy transfer in plants, formation and synthesis of special enzymes, and fixation of nitrogen. Deficiency of iron in ...
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Introduction: Among the micronutrients required by plants, iron deficiency has the maximum limitation for agricultural crops. Iron plays an important role in synthesis of chlorophyll, energy transfer in plants, formation and synthesis of special enzymes, and fixation of nitrogen. Deficiency of iron in plants causes chlorosis or yellowing of young leaves. Iron deficiency is developed due to imbalance of metal ions including copper and manganese, large phosphorus in soil, poor aeration, low temperatures, soil iron deficiency, low organic content, and high concentration of bicarbonate in the root environment. To solve the problem of iron deficiency in plants, very expensive methods are used. Usage of solid wastes of copper melting factories such as slag as soil modifying materials can be useful in iron nutrition. The possibility of using reverb furnace slag of Sarcheshmeh Copper complex as an iron fertilizer was examined in a calcareous soil. Since copper slag contain considerable amount of iron (53.8% iron oxides), therefore, its proper management can solve the problem of iron deficiency in calcareous soils. Materials and Methods: To investigate the effect of copper slag and organic compounds on iron availability and growth of Sorghum plant, (Speed Feed cultivar), a soil sample was harvested with low soil absorbable iron and organic compound. After air-drying, the soil samples were passed through a 2-mm sieve. Some physiochemical properties of the soil sample used, organic compounds, and the slag were characterized by typical experimental methods. The experimental design was performed as a factorial experiment (copper slag and organic compounds) in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The experimental treatments included five levels of organic compound (pistachio shell and cow manure at two levels of 2% , 4% and the control sample) and 10 levels of iron (copper slag, copper slag with sulfur, copper slag with sulfur and thiobacillus, acidic slag (each at two levels), Fe-EDDHA, and control sample). The experimental treatments were incubated for 3 months. Treatments were then applied to 3 kg samples of soils and the treated samples were incubated in plastic containers at field capacity (FC) moisture content for up to 90 days. At the end of incubation period, 10 sorghum seeds were cultivated in each pot. Foliar application of Fe-EDTA with a concentration of 5 ppm in addition to the mentioned treatments. Harvesting sorghum shoot was performed 90 days after the cultivation. The plant samples were dried for 48 h at 70°C. After digestion of the plant samples by wet oxidation method, concentration of iron, zinc, nickel and cobalt were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Soil samples were also taken from the pots. After being air-dried, the soil samples were passed through a 2-mm sieve. Amount of electrical conductivity, soluble sodium, concentration of calcium and magnesium as well as iron, zinc, nickel, and cobalt were measured. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software. Means of different treatments were compared using LSD (P ≤0.05) test. Results and Discussion: Application of acidic slag increased the soluble sodium and sodium absorption ratio and decreased the soil absorbable iron content. Application of 4 times critical level as slag (S4) increased iron and zinc absorbable by soil, as well as increased concentration of the plant iron. The copper slag with sulfur and thiobacillus developed the maximum absorbable zinc in soil. Comparison of the organic compounds indicated that cow manure has a greater influence on the amount of absorbable iron in soil, iron concentration and uptake by the plant than pistachio shell. On the other hand, with reduction of the concentration of heavy metals, its application is recommended in comparison with pistachio shell. The content of zinc, nickel, and cobalt in the studied plant did not exceed the toxicity level. Heavy metals have low mobility in the soil and are often stabilized by soil colloids or precipitate as different compounds. For this reason, their mobility and transference to shoot diminish. Conclusion: The slag from copper melting has micro nutrient including iron and zinc. Therefore, it can be concluded that the copper slag has the potential of a source supplying elements for plants. These results confirm the lack of use of acidic treatments. In addition of iron and zinc availability for plants, measurement of other heavy metals in the plant showed that the concentration of measured heavy metals was below their toxicity level. Therefore, suitability of this compound for agriculture will be confirmed. Since addition of heavy metals to soil has various environmental effects, thus repetitive use of slag and its use in large amounts are not recommended. As in absorption of nutrients, immobility in soil, stabilization of metal in the root, and preventing its transference to shoot organs are among the mechanisms of plant when exposed to high concentration of heavy metals, it is suggested that the amount of heavy metals be studied in the root.