Foliar Application of Nano-ZnO Improves Growth, Yield, Quality, and Leaf Nutrient Status of Strawberry Over Conventional Zinc Sulfate

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发表日期：

2025年11月10日

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Monika S.,
Nilesh Bhowmick,
Aditi Chakraborty,
Mutum Preema Devi,
Abhas Kumar Sinha,
Sankalpa Ojha,
Soumen Maitra,
Binayak Chakraborty

摘要

A field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of foliar application of nano-Zn fertilization against a conventional Zn source in strawberry cv. ‘Winter Dawn.’ Two Zn sources—nano-ZnO (100, 150, and 200 mg L⁻¹) and conventional Zn-sulfate (2000, 4000, and 6000 mg L⁻¹)—were sprayed on uniform, healthy, and disease-free strawberry plants twice, at 30 and 60 days after planting. The plot with control plants received foliar application of distilled water. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven foliar treatments replicated three times. The results indicated that foliar application of nano-ZnO at 200 mg L⁻¹ resulted in the maximum plant spread (27.88 cm), leaves per plant (59.93), leaf area (52.73 cm²), length of petiole (10.27 cm), and crowns per plant (2.47) in strawberry. The fruit weight (14.58 g), marketable fruits per plant (39.0), and marketable fruit yield per plant (566.31 g) were also the highest in the plants that received foliar application of 200 mg L⁻¹ nano-ZnO. A significant reduction in non-marketable fruits per plant was also recorded with the foliar application of 200 mg L⁻¹ nano-ZnO. Superior fruit quality in terms of total soluble solids (8.99 °Brix), ascorbic acid (69.20 mg 100 g⁻¹), total sugar (8.32%), and anthocyanin content (31.23 mg 100 g⁻¹) was observed in plants that received foliar application of 200 mg L⁻¹ nano-ZnO. This foliar Zn treatment also resulted in fruit with significantly lower acidity. The leaf macronutrients—N (2.23%), P (0.22%), K (1.30%), Ca (0.98%), and Mg (31.23%)—and micronutrients—Zn (0.79 mg kg⁻¹ DW), Fe (89.1 mg kg⁻¹ DW), and Mn (28.96 mg kg⁻¹ DW)—were found to be significantly higher with foliar application of 200 mg L⁻¹ nano-ZnO. Leaf S content was unaffected while Cu content was negatively influenced by foliar Zn fertilization. This study revealed that nano-ZnO has promising effects on growth, yield, quality, and leaf nutrient status of strawberry plants, and it could be used as a potential alternative to conventional Zn-sulfate.