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Nano pyrite (FeS2) root priming enhances chilli and marigold production in nutrients-deficient soil: A nano strategy for fertiliser tuning

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Abstract

A large part of the world has nutrients-deficient soil, where chemical fertiliser application is cost prohibitive. Plants with superior root system architecture perform better in such soils by virtue of their superior mineral assimilation potential. Earlier we showed that seed pre-treatment with nano-pyrite (FeS2/Py) results in improved root architecture in chickpea, Sesamum, carrot and beetroot. Here we have developed a root-priming strategy for crops requiring transplantation. As a case study, roots of 28-days-old chilli and marigold seedlings were primed for 3 h in an aqueous suspension of nano-pyrite (@100 µg/ml), prior to transplantation, resulting in significant increase in the fruit and flower yield respectively. Chilli yields for control (without nitrogen, phosphorous, potash (NPK) or root priming), with NPK application only, with nano-pyrite root-priming only, and with nano-pyrite root-priming along with NPK application were found out to be 1327.60 ± 85.15, 1966.46 ± 11.15, 2118.23 ± 67.69, and 3322.43 ± 109.89 (mean (kg/ha) ± standard deviation, n = 3 replications) respectively. Mean marigold flower number per plant for control and nano-pyrite root priming were found to be ~ 13 and ~ 27, respectively (n = 30). We validate these results by proposing an ionic model explaining the observed root-priming effect. Temporal pH measurement during 3 h of root priming; elemental analysis of roots after 3 h priming and 30 days of transplantation after priming; and root system analysis after 30 days of transplantation were further conducted to firmly establish the role of nano-pyrite in redesigning the root architecture. This study is one of its kind in establishing, that application of a nano-material can modulate root architecture and thereby, influence the overall performance of the plant.

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Author notes

  1. Himanshi Jangir and Chinmaya Kumar Das are equal contribution first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Design Program, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 208016, India

    Himanshi Jangir, Jiten Kumar, Amarjeet Bhardwaj & Mainak Das

  2. Orrissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Ranital, Orissa, 756111, India

    Chinmaya Kumar Das & Shyama Sundar Mahapatra

  3. Bundelkhand University, Kanpur Road, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284128, India

    Gaurav Srivastava

Authors
  1. Himanshi Jangir
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  2. Chinmaya Kumar Das
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  3. Jiten Kumar
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  4. Shyama Sundar Mahapatra
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  5. Gaurav Srivastava
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  6. Amarjeet Bhardwaj
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  7. Mainak Das
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Contributions

HJ, CKD, MD designed the field experiments; SSM, CKD perform the field trials; HJ synthesized, characterized the material and proposed the ionic theory with MD; HJ and AB conducted the root analysis study, field trials for root analysis and elemental analysis. JK and GS performed the seed treatment study; HJ, MD wrote the manuscript. We sincerely thank, Mr. Aravinth Subramaniam from the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur for the detailed ICP-MS analysis.

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Correspondence to Chinmaya Kumar Das or Mainak Das.

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Jangir, H., Das, C.K., Kumar, J. et al. Nano pyrite (FeS2) root priming enhances chilli and marigold production in nutrients-deficient soil: A nano strategy for fertiliser tuning. Appl Nanosci 9, 327–340 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-018-00943-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-018-00943-w

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