Effect of Biosynthesized Iron Nanoparticles on Wheat Production (Triticum aestivum L.)

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder affecting crop production worldwide, leading to stunted growth, reduced yields and decreased nutritional value. Traditional iron fertilizers have limitations, such as low solubility, poor mobility and potential environmental toxicity. Biosynthesized iron nanoparticles have emerged as a promising alternative to address these challenges. These nanoparticles are synthesized using microorganisms offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach.

The iron nanoparticles were biosynthesized through Pseudomonas and actinobacteria and characterized through UV-visible spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), (EDX), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The biosynthesis and characterization of iron nanoparticles were done in Green Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.

Wheat seed priming at 250 ppm and foliar spraying at 500 ppm at panicle initiation stage with iron nanoparticles biosynthesized through actinobacteria (T₆) recorded significantly higher plant height (96.28 cm), number of tillers per meter row length (173.00), leaf area (73.45 dm² m row length^-1), leaf area index (3.26), total dry matter production (368.34 g m row length^-1), productive spikes per square meter (253.67 m^-2), number of grains per spike (48.23), grain weight per spike (1.80 g), 1,000 grain weight (42.19 g), grain yield (4563 kg ha^-1) and straw yield (6357 kg ha^-1), which was on par with seed priming at 250 ppm and foliar spraying at 500 ppm at panicle initiation stage with iron nanoparticles biosynthesized through Pseudomonas (T₃) and commercial iron nanoparticles (T₉).