EFFECTS OF NANOFERTILIZERS ON PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT - Fertilizers: Components, Uses in Agriculture and Environmental Impacts - page 214

production are among the most susceptible fields of application of nanotechnology. It is
predicted that nanotechnology will revolutionize agriculture through new tools for disease
treatment and detection, smart delivery systems, sensors, and better management devices.
However, the rapid development of nanotechnology could release a massive amount of
engineered nanoparticles, which may cause adverse effects on edible plants (Hong et al.,
2013).
The purpose of this study was i) to discuss the use, occurrence, effect, and type of
nanofertilizers on plants and assess the need for future research on crop development, with
specific emphasis on crop yields and the environmental impact; ii) to evaluate the
germination of twelve plants under increasing nanoparticle concentrations [magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 )
and hematite (Fe 2 O 3 )]; and iii) to determine the effect of nanoparticles of magnetite, hematite,
ferrihydrite (FeOOH•xH 2 O), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), and zinc oxide (ZnO) on particular
plant characteristics during the early stages of common bean, maize, and sunflower growth
under greenhouse conditions.
M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS
Experimental Site
This study was conducted from January to July 2013 under greenhouse conditions by the
‗ Laboratorio de Interacciones Planta-Ambiente ' del Cinvestav-Saltillo, located in Saltillo,
Coahuila, Mexico. Specifically, the area is located in the southeastern state of Coahuila,
centered at 25ﾰ31' N, 101ﾰ37' W, at an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level, and with a mean
annual temperature of 18 °C. To a large extent, the climate of Coahuila is dry and semi-warm
to extremely warm, with some variants throughout the regions. The average temperature in
January, the coldest month, was 12 °C; in June and July, the hottest months, it was 23 °C. The
average annual rainfall is 369 mm, with the majority of it occurring during September and
October. Based on the Köppen climate classification, this is a semi-arid, hot climate (BSh).
Additionally, according to the FAO/UNESCO soil classification system, the soil is a Haplic
Xerosol with a pH of 7.3, electrolytic conductivity of 4.8 dS m -1 , water-holding capacity
(WHC) of 865 g kg -1 , total N content of 0.7 g N kg -1 soil, and an organic carbon content of 1.5
g C kg -1 soil.
Biological Material
This study highlights the effects of nanoparticles on the seed germination of basil
( Ocimum basilicum L.), sweet alyssum ( Alyssum maritimum L. ), parsley ( Petroselinum
sativum Hoffman), snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus L.), oregano ( Origanum vulgare L.),
coleus ( Coleus blumei Benth), lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.), floss flower ( Ageratum
houstonianum Mill), common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), sunflower
( Helianthus annuus L.), and oxeye daisy ( Chrysanthemun leaucanthemum L.). All of the
seeds, except common bean, maize, and sunflower, were purchased from ‗ Germinal, S.A. de
C.V. ' (D.F., Mexico). The sunflower and maize seeds were provided by ‗ Universidad