Effect of Nanoscale Zinc Oxide Particles on Macronutrient Concentration of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

In the present investigation, size dependent effects of nanoscale zinc oxide particulates (n-ZnO) on the macronutrient concentration of groundnut leaf, stem and kernel have been analysed. ZnO-nanoparticulates that were used in the study were prepared by modified oxalate decomposition method and the ZnO-nanoparticulates (mean size of 20, 25 and 30 nm) were characterized using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Different concentrations (150, 200 and 400 ppm) of ZnO-nanoparticulates were applied (foliar spray) to reveal their effects on groundnut crop in comparison to bulk ZnSO4 Statistically significant high kernel N content (0.49 %) was observed in n-ZnO of size 30 nm @ 400 ppm and highest P content in kernel (0.16 %) was observed in n- ZnO of size 30 nm @ 150 ppm. Whereas, highest kernel K content (0.7 %) was observed in both n-ZnO of size 25 nm and 30 nm @ 200 ppm. These results indicate that zinc nanoparticles significantly influenced the macronutrient (N, P, K) concentration of groundnut depending on their size and concentration.