Effect of Magnetite Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) as Nutritive Supplement on Pear Saplings

Abstract

This study was performed during the two successive season of 2013 and 2014 to determine the effect of foliar sprays with magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) as nutrient supplement on some growth parameters and some chemical components of pear saplings (Pyrus serotina L. X Pyrus communis L.) cultivar Le-Conte. Results showed an increase in biomass parameters i.e. sapling height, stem diameter, leaf area and dry weight. Additionally leaf bio-chemicals showed a tremendous increase in total carbohydrates percentage, total amino acids concentrate, nitrogen and iron content, total and refraction of chlorophyll and carotenoids content using magnetite treatments compared to traditional iron chelate treatment. 250 ppm MNPs proved to be the highly effective than the same concentration of traditional iron chelate. MNPs proved to have unique physicochemical properties and superparamagnetism that boosted over all plant metabolism that affected by biomass and bio-chemical properties.