title: Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Potential Iron Fertilizer for Peanut (Arachis hypogaea).
abstract: Nanomaterials are used in practically every aspect of modern life, including agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) as a fertilizer to replace traditional Fe fertilizers, which have various shortcomings. The effects of the Fe2O3 NPs and a chelated-Fe fertilizer (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-Fe; EDTA-Fe) fertilizer on the growth and development of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a crop that is very sensitive to Fe deficiency, were studied in a pot experiment. The results showed that Fe2O3 NPs increased root length, plant height, biomass, and SPAD values of peanut plants. The Fe2O3 NPs promoted the growth of peanut by regulating phytohormone contents and antioxidant enzyme activity. The Fe contents in peanut plants with Fe2O3 NPs and EDTA-Fe treatments were higher than the control group. We used energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to quantitatively analyze Fe in the soil. Peanut is usually cultivated in sandy soil, which is readily leached of fertilizers. However, the Fe2O3 NPs adsorbed onto sandy soil and improved the availability of Fe to the plants. Together, these results show that Fe2O3 NPs can replace traditional Fe fertilizers in the cultivation of peanut plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research on the Fe2O3 NPs as the iron fertilizer.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China; College of Agriculture, Guangxi UniversityNanning, China.
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA, USA.
authors.forename: Chuanxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Dow Pharma and Food Solution, The Dow Chemical Company, Midland MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China; Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, AmherstMA, USA.
authors.forename: Yukui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Guangxi University Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Xinlian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zetian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tianqi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: EDTA iron (iii); Fe2O3 NPs; iron fertilizer; peanut; soil