Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Precipitation and Sol Gel Methods from Different Precursors and their Comparison Impact on Seedling Attributes of Wheat

Zinc plays an important role as a micronutrient in both animals and plants. The application of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a potential solution to alleviate zinc deficiency and its effect on the growth of seedling attributes of wheat. These particles were prepared by precipitation and sol-gel method using zinc sulfate and zinc chloride as precursors. The prepared samples were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform spectroscopy. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were found to be elliptical in shape and their diameter ranges were observed 10.6 to 10.7nm by Scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform spectroscopy analyses showed the presence of the various functional group in the zinc oxide nanoparticles like N-H, CH2, CH3, RCH=CHR, C=O, -COOH, -OH and CH2-Cl. Solutions of different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%) were prepared and seeds were soaked in distilled water (hydro priming). After the 6 days observations, it was found that nanoparticles (0.3%) prepared from the zinc sulfate by sol-gel method showed significant variation for germination and seedling attributes of wheat as compared to control. The decreasing order for the zinc chemicals was zinc sulfate nanoparticles > zinc chloride for methods sol-gel method > precipitation method > standard (original salt) and for the levels was 0.3% > 0.2% > 0.4% > 0.5% > 0.1% > hydro priming > control. In crux, nanoparticles prepared from zinc sulfate enhanced the germination of wheat as compared to control.