Seed Priming and Coating by Nano-Scale Zinc Oxide Particles Improved Vegetative Growth, Yield and Quality of Fodder Maize (Zea mays)

Nano-fertilizers of essential plant nutrients, including micronutrients, have the potential to improve nutrient use efficiency and productivity field crops in deficient soils. The present study reports comparative influence zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) bulk Zn salt (ZnSO4) on growth, yield, quality fodder maize (Zea mays) (var. J-1006) cultivated under conditions year 2019. Three levels (0, 20, 40 mg L−1) fertilizers were used for seed priming coating triplicate following randomized complete block design model. An increase vegetative yield parameters (number plants, height, stover biomass), acid detergent fiber (ADF%), hemicellulose contents shoot (Zn) content treatment seeds with ZnONPs (20 concentration as compared ZnSO4 control treatments was observed. application (40 significantly enhanced total chlorophyll content, available soil nitrogen phosphorus, neutral (NDF%), cellulose improved microbial counts enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase activities), whereas a significant potassium recorded treatments. These findings suggest an encouraging effect growth attributing characteristics after at low concentration. Furthermore, can also be considered effective tool delivery micronutrient crop.