Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan Encapsulated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and its Application in Maize under Zinc Deficit Soil

Zinc deficiency is a growing concern among the global population, and it can be attributed to the depletion of significant portions of agricultural land and the production of foods that are low in zinc. In the current study, an efficiency-centric method of maize cultivation with zinc oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in chitosan (Cs-ZnO NPs) is proposed and evaluated. In order to investigate, NPs were chemically synthesized using process improvement for better size and shape and characterized using Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The NPs under characterization showed less than 100 nm diametric globular particles. A field experiment was conducted in randomized block design with six different treatments to study the impact of foliar applied Zn at various concentrations (50, 100, and 150 mg L-1) through Cs-ZnO NPs on plant growth, SPAD and grain yield in maize plant, with respect to foliar ZnSO4 @0.5 %, chitosan @150 mg L-1 and the control. The highest grain yield of 52.5 q ha-1 in maize was recorded with Zn supplied through Cs-ZnO NPs at 100 mg L-1, compare to other treatments. Similarly significant improvements in plant height and chlorophyll content were noted at 100 mg L-1 Zn through Cs-ZnO NPs. These results indicates that Cs-ZnO NPs can improve grain yield and plant growth performance of maize in a sustainable and efficiency centric manner.