Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles enhanced compost with different application methods on nutrient uptake and Grain Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa) Var. Inpari 32

¹ Agrotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Islam Malang, Indonesia
² Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, University of Islam Malang, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: nurhidayati@unisma.ac.id

Abstract

A pot experiment using a randomized block design was conducted to test the effect of ZnO-nanoparticles enhanced compost (ZnONEC) with different application methods on nutrient uptake and grain yield of rice var. Inpari 32. The treatment tested was ZnO-NEC with various concentrations (50, 100 and 150 mg.kg^-1) with direct soil and foliar application methods compared with control and inorganic fertilizer treatments. All treatments using ZnO-NEC fertilizer received 50% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer. The results showed that the application of ZnO-NEC 100-150 mg.kg^-1 with foliar application had leaf greenness levels (SPAD Value) and N uptake that were the same as the use of inorganic fertilizer and significantly increased the uptake of P, K and Zn compared to the use of inorganic fertilizer. The ZnO-NEC 50 mg.kg^-1 with direct soil application ZnO-NEC 100 and 150 mg.kg^-1 with foliar application had the same high grain yield per hill as the inorganic treatment. These treatments had an average percentage of empty grains (9.14%) and grain moisture content of 27.10%, which was lower compared to the control and inorganic treatments. These findings provide new insight into the potential for using the technology of ZnO-nanoparticles enhanced compost to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.