Speakers - 2026

Title: Nanotechnology and Agriculture Production

Abstract

Nanotechnology has emerged as an innovative approach in agriculture, offering effective solutions for enhancing nutrient use efficiency, reducing environmental losses, and improving crop growth, yield, and overall quality. Nanoparticles possess unique physical and chemical properties due to their small size and high surface area, enabling them to penetrate plant tissues more effectively than conventional fertilizers. Foliar application of nanoparticles facilitates the direct absorption of nutrients through the leaf surface, bypassing limitations associated with soil immobilization and thereby increasing the bioavailability of essential elements.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically important fiber crop whose growth and productivity are often constrained by micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron. Green synthesis of nanoparticles has emerged as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach for improving nutrient use efficiency in crop production. The present study aimed to synthesize iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract and evaluate the effects of their foliar application on the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, and seed cotton yield of cotton.

Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a green co-precipitation method, with neem leaf extract serving as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the successful synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles and the presence of plant-derived functional groups responsible for their stabilization. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three treatments: control (0 ppm), 50 ppm, and 100 ppm iron oxide nanoparticles, with three replications. The nanoparticle suspensions were applied as foliar sprays, and various growth, physiological, biochemical, and yield-related parameters were recorded.

The results demonstrated that foliar application of green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles significantly improved plant height, leaf area, monopodial branches, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a/b ratio, total phenolic content, catalase activity, peroxidase activity, total soluble protein, total free amino acid content, total number of bolls, and seed cotton yield. In contrast, the number of nodes, sympodial branches, carotenoid content, hydrogen peroxide content, and boll weight showed positive numerical responses but did not differ significantly among the treatments. Among the tested concentrations, the 100 ppm treatment consistently recorded the highest values for most of the studied parameters.

The observed improvements may be attributed to enhanced iron availability, increased chlorophyll biosynthesis, improved photosynthetic efficiency, and activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Overall, the findings indicate that foliar application of 100 ppm green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles can serve as an effective and environmentally friendly strategy for improving cotton growth, physiological performance, and yield. This study highlights the potential of green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles as a sustainable nano-fertilizer for cotton cultivation and supports their future application in sustainable agricultural production.