IMPACT OF BIOSYNTHESIZED MANGANESE NANOPARTICLES ON IRON TOLERANCE, GERMINABILITY AND YIELD OF MAIZE IN FERRUGINOUS SOILS

ABSTRACT

Iron toxicity is a common problem associated with ferruginous soils. It poses challenges to plant growth and ultimately, reduces agricultural output. The application of nanoparticles has surfaced as a viable remedy to mitigate the deleterious consequences of iron toxicity in certain plant species. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of manganese nanoparticles in improving the tolerance of maize plants to different degrees of iron stress and their subsequent output. A relationship between the concentrations of manganese nanoparticles, morphological characteristics related to maize (Zea mays L.) growth was found in the study, and larger concentrations were generally associated with enhanced yield and a greater ability to withstand the harmful effects of iron. The temporal variations and modal observations noted in the responses of maize plants to manganese nanoparticles further emphasize the significance of taking dosage levels and exposure duration into account when using nanoparticles. Complex relationships have been noted between the concentration of manganese nanoparticles, the degree of soil contamination, certain plant morphological features and the impact of manganese nanoparticles treatments on these features. This suggests that, in iron-rich areas, manganese nanoparticles may be able to improve the yield and iron tolerance of maize grown in ferruginous soil, offering a promising path toward sustainable agriculture.