Effect of Nano-NPK and Nano-Chitosan Fertilizers on the Growth and Chemical Constituents of Philodendron sellum Plants

Abstract

Nanofertilizers have great promise as a tool for environmentally friendly farming. Fertilizers of this type may have a high nutrient use efficiency and a slow-release nutrient profile, meaning they provide plants with the nutrients they need for an extended period of time, unlike mineral fertilizers. A pot study was conducted under plastic house condition at a private nursery in Mansoura City, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during two successive seasons of 2021 and 2022. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of foliar application of nano-NPK and nano-chitosan at varying doses on the physiochemical characteristics and growth of Phildedron plant. Using the treatments of mineral NPK (3 g L-1) as a control and nano-NPK at (1, 2 and 3 mg L-1) as well as 2 mg L-1 nano-NPK combined with (1, 2, and 3 mg L-1) nano-chitosan for each seedling. The obtained results showed that all nano fertilizer treatments increased all studied parameters especially with the treatment of 3 mg L-1 nano-NPK for vegetative growth parameters (plant height, fresh and dry weights of aerial parts/plant and leaf area) by 39.23, 70.84, 51.50 and 15.80%, respectively over the control and highest mean value for root growth (root length, root fresh and dry weights) and superiority chemical constituents (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids, membrane stability index as well as mineral N, P and K (%), peroxidase and catalase activities) compared to the control treatment. The highest significant values of these traits and chemical constituents were observed for the treatments of either NPK nanofertilizer at 3 mg L-1or nano-NPK at 2 mg L-1plus nano chitosan at 3 mg L-1.