International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences

© 2015 Available online at www.irjabs.com

ISSN 2251-838X / Vol, 9 (9): 1477-1478
Science Explorer Publications

Response of Growth and Yield of Cucumber Plants

(Cucumis sativus L.) to Different
Foliar Applications of Nano- Iron and Zinc
Alireza Javadimoghadam, Alireza Ladan Moghadam, Elham Danaee
Department of Gardening, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran

ABSTRACT: In order to investigate effect of different concentrations of Iron and zinc chelate nano
fertilizer on growth and performance of Cucumis sativus L., an experiment was performed as a
design of completely randomized blocks. Nano-Iron and zinc fertilizers (1.5, 2 and 2.5 per 1000)
were applied as foliar sprays. In general, results indicated that Iron and zinc chelate nano at 2 (per
1000) concentration significantly influenced on number fruit, chlorophyll content, super oxide
dismutase and micro-element. The highest number fruit and flower, chlorophyll and SOD content
were obtained at 2 (per 1000) Iron and 2.5 (per 1000) Zn concentration. As a result, this study
suggested that the foliar applications of liquid fertilizer could improve the plant growth and yield of
cucumbers.
Key words: Yield, Nano fertilizer, Fruit quality, Cucumis sativus

INTRODUCTION

Fruits and vegetables doubtlessly have a great and essential contribution in supplying required mineral
elements for body especially iron, zinc, calcium and ect,. whose shortage are prevalent. Cucumber (Cucumis
sativus L.) is a major vegetable crop worldwide. Cucumber is the fourth most important vegetable crop after
tomato, cabbage, and onion (Tatlioglu 1993). Nanotechnology can be used as an alternative technology in a
wide scientific area. Nanofertilizer can be encapsulated inside nanomaterials, coated with a thin protective
polymer film and delivered as particles (DeRosa et al. 2010). A balanced fertilization program with macro and
micronutrients in plant nutrition is very important in the production of high yield with high quality products
(Talaei 1998). Iron and zinc are of fundamental constitutions of plants oxidizing and reducing systems and due
to its capability to change its valance, as a basic element in oxidizing and reducing systems it facilitates
electron transfer (Sawan et al. 2001). If adequate and absorbable amounts of Fe are not available for the plant
chlorophyll production in leaf decreases and the leaves become pale. Base of iron and zinc nano fertilizer are
natural quality and its made of organic and mineral material. This fertilizer are fully compatible with the
environment and agricultural farms and organic materials with added to the soil to make its more organic
material is to be (Anonymous 2010).The use of nano fertilizer leads to an increased efficiency of the elements,
reduce the toxicity of the soil, to at least reach the negative effects caused by the consumption of excessive
consumption of fertilizers and reduce the frequency of application of fertilizers (Naderi and DaneshShahraki
2011). The aim of this study was to determine that the effects of nanotechnology liquid fertilizers on the plant
growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed in a greenhouse at the Research Farm, Garmsar, Iran, in 2013-2014.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds was used as plant material. Nano-Iron and zinc fertilizers (1.5, 2 and 2.5
per 1000) were applied as foliar spray. Nano-Iron and zinc foliar spraying was carried out in the 3 spage. Some
traits including; number fruit, chlorophyll content, super oxide dismutase and micro-element (Iron, Zn and Mn)
content were recorded. The experimental design was a completely randomized blocks with five replications for
each treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and and comparing averages was done by Duncan’s
test and a probability value of %5.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Our results showed that application of nano-Iron and zinc significantly influenced number fruits and
flowers (Table 1). The highest rates of these variables were found at 2 (per 1000) Iron and 2 and 2.5 (per 1000)
 Intl. Res. J. Appl. Basic. Sci. Vol., 9 (9), 1477-1478, 2015

Zn. It is evident that increase in Iron concentration (from 2 to 2.5) increased flowers number. Nano-Iron and
zinc foliar spraying significantly affected chlorophyll content (Table 1). The highest chlorophyll content was
obtained at 2 (per 1000) Iron and 2.5 (per 1000) Zn concentration. Results indicated a rise in SOD content as
Iron and Zn concentration increased. Foliar application of 2.5 (per 1000) Iron resulted in the maximum SOD
content. Our results showed that application of nano-Iron and zinc significantly influenced fruits and leaf Iron
and Zn concentration (Table 1). It is evident that increase in Iron and Zn concentration (from 2 to 2.5)
significantly increased fruits and leaf Iron and Zn concentration. We observed the highest average leaf and fruit
Mn were recorded at 2 (per 1000) Iron and 2 (per 1000) Zn concentration. The lowest values of all these
parameters were recorded in the control. Iron play many essential roles in plant growth and development,
including chlorophyll synthesis, thylakoid synthesis, chloroplast development, contributes in RNA synthesis and
improves the performance of photosystems (Miller et al. 1995; Sheykhbaglou et al. 2010). Regarding leaf Fe
concentration, it was seen that the effect of foliar FeSo4 on leaf Fe concentrations was higher than of Fe-EDTA
in strawberry cultivars (Harsini et al. 2014). Peyvandi et al. (2011) reported the highest mean dry and fresh
weight of stems, roots, leaves at the lowest concentration of nano-iron chelated. Mohamadipoor et al., (2013)
reported the highest amounts of fresh weight root with 27.78 g was recorded from control treatment. Ma and
Hong (1998) reported that application of iron to the soil or the foliage as chelate or sulphates improved the
vegetative growth, gross yield and fruit quality of balady lime. Application of chelate iron Fe-EDDHA to the soil
gave the highest response. Prasad et al. (2012) reported that nano-scale zinc oxide particles increased stem
and root growth and pod yield of peanut as compared with ZnSO4 application. Burger et al. (2007) studied
effect of iron chelate nano fertilizer on qualitative and quantitative properties of various cut flowers and found
that treatments by 1 and 1.5 gr/L iron chelate Nano fertilizer with possibility of 95% have a positive and
significant effect on increasing this index (Bugr Rahimian et al. 2011). In conclusion, The nanomaterial is one of
the new technologies that into almost all areas of our lives and being to be used in agriculture production. The
researchers indicate many of the potential benefits of nanotechnology. This study has identified that fertilizers
can have important effective on the plant growth and yield of cucumber.
Table 1. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) of measured parameters in Cucumis sativus L. under different treatments of nano-Iron and zinc
fertilizers.

Source of
Chlorophyll Flower
Variation df Fe (Fruit) Fe (leaf) Zn (Fruit) Zn (leaf) Mn (Fruit) Mn (leaf) SOD
(Total) NO.
(S.O.V)
** * ** ** * ** **
T 2 0.069 5660.67 617.60 18.19 0.11 0.1 126850.15 0.06** 62.04**
Error 0 0.02 18.7 12.3 0.001 0.02 0.001 496.22 1.9 7.47
CV % 8.18 7.51 7.87 19.96 19.96 8.10 7.92 10.07 7.75
** and * are significant statistically at 1 and 5 %, respectivly.

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