Development of Zinc Nanofertilizer to Enhance Crop Production in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum)

In context to environmentally benign technology, present study was made for biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles which were used as nanofertilizer to enhance crop production in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) cv. HHB 67. Synthesized zinc nanoparticles were characterized for confirmation of size, shape, surface structure, crystalline nature, and study of elemental proportion. Results indicate that synthesized nanoparticle size ranged between 15 and 25 nm. A significant improvement in shoot length (15.1 %), root length (4.2 %), root area (24.2 %), chlorophyll content (24.4 %), total soluble leaf protein (38.7 %), plant dry biomass (12.5 %), and enzyme activities of acid phosphatase (76.9 %), alkaline phosphatase (61.7 %), phytase (322.2 %), and dehydrogenase (21 %) were observed over control in 6 weeks old plants. The grain yield at crop maturity was improved by 37.7 % due to application of zinc nanofertilizer.