A practical assessment of nano-phosphate on soybean (Glycine max) growth and microbiome establishment

Abstract

The efficacy of needle-shaped nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) as a phosphate (Pi) fertilizer was evaluated as well as its impact on soil and soybean (Glycine max) bacterial and fungal communities. Microbial communities were evaluated in soy fertilized with nHA using ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and 16S rRNA high-throughput gene sequencing. Separate greenhouse growth experiments using agriculturally relevant nHA concentrations and application methods were used to assess plant growth and yield compared with no Pi (−P), soluble Pi (+P), and bulk HA controls. Overall, nHA treatments did not show significantly increased growth, biomass, total plant phosphorus concentrations, or yield compared with no Pi controls. Soil and rhizosphere community structures in controls and nHA treatment groups were similar, with minor shifts in the nHA-containing pots comparable to bulk HA controls at equal concentrations. The implementation of nHA in an agriculturally realistic manner and the resulting poor soy growth advises that contrary to some reports under specialized conditions, this nano-fertilizer may not be a viable alternative to traditional Pi fertilizers. If nano-phosphate fertilizers are to achieve their conjectured agricultural potential, alternative nHAs, with differing morphologies, physicochemical properties, and interactions with the soil matrix could be investigated using the evaluative procedures described.

Role of Nanoscale Hydroxyapatite in Disease Suppression of Fusarium-Infected Tomato

“…The suspensions of different sizes of nHA were dispersed in deionized water for 10 min to make 9.3 mg/L (low) and 46.5 mg/L P (high) doses, which was equivalent to 0.3 and 1.5 mM P, respectively, using a probe sonicator. The reason that we chose that 9.3 mg/L as a low P dose is that Liu and Lal (2014) and McKnight et al (2020) used the similar dose in soil to evaluate the effects of nanoscale hydroxyapatite on soybean growth and microbial community; , in addition, 10 mg P/kg soil is also the minimal requirement for plant growth. , There were seven treatments in each healthy and diseased group, including control (no Fusarium infection and nHA addition), 0.3 mM large-sized nHA (100–200 nm; nHA-L), 1.5 mM nHA-L, 0.3 mM small-sized nHA (10–20 nm; nHA-S), 1.5 mM nHA-S, 1.5 mM CaHPO 4 and 1.5 mM commercial nHA [nHA-C; Ca 5 (OH)­(PO 4 ) 3 ; BET: < 20 nm; MW: 502.31 g/mol; purity: ≥ 97%], which was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO). After transplanting, all seedings were foliar-treated with nHA suspensions for three times within one-week interval.…”

Nano-Pesticides and Fertilizers: Solutions for Global Food Security

“…Nano phosphorus fertilizers exhibit distinctive outcomes in amplifying the effectiveness of phosphorus in the soil. The nanoscale particles possess a substantial specific surface area, facilitating the facile combination of nano phosphorus fertilizer with soil particles to form a more stable complex [ 55 ]. This process retards the migration and leaching of phosphorus in the soil, thereby heightening its effectiveness.…”

“…By augmenting the effectiveness of phosphorus in the soil, nano phosphorus fertilizers provide a more readily available nutrient source for plants, consequently expediting the growth process. This growth promotion is manifested in increased plant height, expanded leaf area, and a more developed root system, ultimately leading to higher yields [ 55 ]. Notably, this growth-promoting effect exhibits a degree of consistency across various soil types and climatic conditions.…”

Guest Edited Collection: Nanotechnology in agriculture

“…Two other articles deal with nanohydroxyapatite as a viable carrier of plant nutrients. One checks its negligible impact on the rhizosphere microbial community, and reports a lack of effect as a source of P for soybean 17 , whereas the other explores the behaviour of this compound, and how its morphology at the nanoscale determines release of phosphate and nitrate ions 18 .…”