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ABSTRACT
Nanoparticles are really small particles with dimensions typically less than 100 nanometers. They can be engineered from various materials such as metals, semiconductors, polymers, or ceramics. Nanoparticles exhibit unique properties due to their small size and high surface area to-volume ratio, making them highly desirable for various applications in different fields like material science, medicine, electronics, environmental remediation, catalysis and crop production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the growth of the cowpea plant and its rhizosphere organism (Vigna unguiculata). Cowpea seeds were planted, 4 seeds each in the 12 planting bags and germination readings were taken for 5 days, after which morphological data was collected weekly using the following measuring parameters: Number of leaves, plant height, leaf area, stem girths, internode, number of nodes and number of leaf loss. Few weeks after germination, Zinc oxide nanoparticles were applied on the plants. Some weeks post nanoparticles application, samples of the Plants rhizosphere soil were collected and taken to the laboratory for the examination and identification of bacteria and fungi present in the rhizosphere. Bacterial and fungal isolates were isolated and characterized using morphological and biochemical methods. The findings of this study reveal that a high concentration of ZnO nanoparticles had an adverse effect on the growth of Vigna unguiculata and the bacteria and fungi rhizosphere community.
