Effect of Nano-Fertilizers on Alfalfa Plants Grown under Different Salt Stresses in Hydroponic System

Rania M. El-Shal, Ahmed H. El-Naggar, Talaat R. El-Beshbeshy, Esawy K. Mahmoud, Nasser I. Abd El-Kader, Ali M. Missaui, Daolin Du, Adel M. Ghoneim and Mahmoud S. El-Sharkawy
Additional contact information
Rania M. El-Shal: Soil Science and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Ahmed H. El-Naggar: Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
Talaat R. El-Beshbeshy: Soil Science and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Esawy K. Mahmoud: Soil Science and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Nasser I. Abd El-Kader: Soil Science and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Ali M. Missaui: Department Crop and Soil Sciences and Center for Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Daolin Du: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Adel M. Ghoneim: Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
Mahmoud S. El-Sharkawy: Soil Science and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: In light of climate change and the ever-increasing population, salt stress has become a critical issue for agriculture and food security. The use of nano-fertilizers in agriculture is a promising application for salt stress management. Therefore, we investigated a hydroponic experiment to evaluate the effect of different nano-fertilizers: macro-nutrient (K 2 SO 4 ) and micro-nutrient (ZnO and SiO 2 ) on two alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) genotypes: (Susceptible: Bulldog 505, and tolerant: Mesa-Sirsa) grown with different salt concentrations (6 and10 dS m −1 ) in split-split design. The results demonstrated that nano-K 2 SO 4 enhanced shoot dry weight, plant height, number of flowers, number of tillers, root length, root fresh weight, and root dry weight under both salt levels. Addition of nano-K 2 SO 4 enhanced plant relative water contents and electrolyte leakage with both genotypes under different salt levels. Nano-SiO 2 promoted proline and SOD production with high salinity with values of (0.78 and 1.06 µmol g −1 FW) and 191.15 and 143.46 U. g −1 FW under Bulldog and Mesa-Sirsa, respectively. The application of nano-ZnO promoted plant micro-elements under 6 dS m −1 with both genotypes. The incorporation of nano-fertilizers into hydroponic systems provides a promising strategy, especially in regions with low water quality.

Keywords: nano-fertilizers; hydroponic system; salt stress; alfalfa genotypes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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