Considering nutrient delivery and micronutrient use efficiency problems, mesoporous nanosilica (mNs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based iron and zinc nanocomposites were formulated. Prepared nanocomposites were characterized for FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and AAS to examine surface functional groups, morphology, and structural composition. XRD spectrum confirmation with SAED image of nanosilica and graphene oxide nanocomposites confirms the polycrystalline and crystalline nature with 30–70-nm crystal size. The SEM revealed that the modified surface of mesoporous nanosilica and reduced graphene oxide are well-distributed clusters and are composed of targeted micronutrients. The impact of nano Fe and Zn foliar application was evaluated on rice grain fortification, productivity, and micronutrient use efficiency. The iron and zinc uptake at 60 days after sowing (DAT) and at harvest was significantly increased with foliar application of mNs and rGO-based Zn at 30 ppm + Fe at 5 ppm nanocomposites as well as led to nutrient fortification by increasing grain uptake and content, with the application of 30 ppm zinc and 5 ppm iron through mNs resulted in an improvement of the rice grain yield by 53% over conventional fertilization. Besides significant increment in grain yield, foliar application of mNs and rGO-based nanocomposites (Zn at 30 ppm + Fe at 5 ppm) increased the Zn and Fe use efficiency by 527 and 380%, respectively, over conventional micronutrient fertilization (ZnSO4 and FeSO4).

A field experiment was conducted on response of watermelon to foliar application of different water soluble fertilizer at Micronutrient Research Scheme Farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry during Summer season of 2011. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. There were total six treatments, out of which four treatments of foliar application of different NPK fertilizer in which one treatment was through conventional fertilizer and other three treatments through different water soluble grades. Other two treatments viz., GRD + water spray and absolute control were included for comparison. The yield contributing characters viz., the average number of female flowers per plant, average numbers fruit/plant were found significantly higher in treatment of 0.830:1.338:1.630 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha-1 through water soluble grade and conventional fertilizer. The fruit setting was found statistically non significant. The earliness in harvesting was observed in between the treatment of foliar application of fertilizer through water soluble grade and through conventional fertilizer was 74 to 80 days after sowing. Foliar application of 0.830 : 1.338 : 1.630 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha-1 through water soluble fertilizer grades (15:10:15, 15:30:15, 8:12:24) significantly found increase in uptake of nutrients and fruit yield of watermelon (33.89 to 36.90 Mg ha-1) showed best to obtain higher yield along with good quality of watermelon (cv. KIRAN) followed by or through conventional fertilizers.

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