Published Paper Details:

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) possess remarkable physical, optical, and antibacterial properties that have great potential for improving agriculture. The purpose of the present investigation is to enhance fertilizer response of ZnO NPs. These nanoparticles are synthesized using co-precipitation method to study its physicochemical properties using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, etc. The synthesized ZnO sample shows hexagonal wurtzite type crystal structure. The FESEM images show the particle-flake like mixed morphology with average grain size of about 30 to 35 nm. Herein, we report effect of fertilizer response of ZnO NPs on Maize and Wheat plant. The plants were sprayed 4 times at the interval of 7 days with different concentrations of ZnO NPs. The growth parameters like seed germination, root and shoot length, height of plant, width of root and stem, number of leaves and dimensions of leaves were studied with respect to control. The outcome of this study is promising with average enhancement in the growth properties of plants with ZnO NPs as fertilizers of about 20% compared to control.