Evaluation of Brassica species for growth, yield and heat use efficiency under nitrogen nutrition and iron sulphide nanoparticles application

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae 2024-07, Vol.333, p.113278, Article 113278
• Main Authors: Mahto, Rakhi, Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Ankita, Singh, J.P., Tiwari, Ravindra Kumar, Vishwakarma, Dinesh Kumar, Obaidullah, Ahmad J., Gacem, Amel, Yadav, Krishna Kumar, Yadav, Ashish Krishna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brassica; Farm yard manures; Iron sulphide; Nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113278

•Field trial was conducted to assess the effect of genotypes, nitrogen management and iron sulphide nanoparticles (nFeS2) on oilseed Brassica.•Experiment comprised 24 treatment combinations, incorporating 3 distinct species, 2 nitrogen strategies, and 4 levels of nFeS2.•Application of 75 % RDF with 25% N through FYM registered superiority over 100 % RDF in respect of growth, yield, and HUE.•Application of 8 ppm FeS2 NPs shows better result in respect of the 4 and 12 ppm for inducing growth, yield, and HUE. The persistent and indiscriminate application of low-efficiency fertilizers, coupled with environmental degradation, poses a substantial threat to the sustainability of agricultural fields. To address these limitations, employing nanotechnology in agriculture emerges as a promising strategy that transforms traditional production systems into advanced agricultural practices, ensuring the sustainability of soil health and crop production. Therefore, a field trial was conducted to assess the effect of genotypes, nitrogen management and iron sulphide nanoparticles on oilseed Brassica at Varanasi in India. The experiment comprised 24 treatment combinations, incorporating three distinct oilseed Brassica species (B. carinata, B. napus, B. juncea) in the main plot, two nitrogen management strategies (100 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and 75 % RDF with 25 % nitrogen through farmyard manure) in subplots, and four levels of nano iron sulphide (0, 4, 8, and 12 ppm) as sub-subplot treatments. This was arranged in a split-split plot design and replicated thrice during the winter seasons (November–April) of 2017–18 and 2018–19. The statistical examination of the experimental data revealed that among the various treatments, the application of 8 ppm iron sulphide nanoparticles through foliar spraying, in combination with 75 % RDF and 25 % nitrogen from farmyard manure (FYM) in B. juncea, demonstrated the highest values for parameters such as plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation (g plant−1), the count of primary and secondary branches, number of seeds siliqua−1, number of siliquae plant−1, siliqua length (cm) and seed yield (kg ha−1). Comparable results were noted at different morphological stages concerning dry matter heat use efficiency (DM-HUE), with B. carinata exhibiting the highest efficiency in utilizing heat. B. juncea and B. napus treated with 8 ppm iron sulphide nanoparticles outperformed other treatment combinations in terms of interaction, recor