1. RAZEEN GUL - Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
2. AMBREEN AHMED - Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
3. MUHAMMAD MOHSIN RAZA - Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
In agriculture sector, the unchecked extensive use of various agrochemicals to meet demand of high crop yield for growing population, adversely affects the soil and plant health; therefore, scientists are focusing on the development of new ecofriendly, effective and economic strategies for sustainable agriculture. In the present study, the most ancient concept of Biofertilizers and most recent concept of nanofertilizers was used to synthesize, Zn-Nanobiofertilizers by using consortia of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Zinc nanoparticles (zinc as micronutrient). For this purpose, consortium of gram positive Bacillus bingmayogenesis (KH3) and Bacillus tropicus (LS5) and gram-negative consortium of Achromobacter denitrificans (HS4) and Pseudomonas sp., (AH2) and green synthesized zinc nanoparticles by using leaf extracts of Coriandrum sativum and Azadirachta indica was used. The phytostimulatory impacts of prepared Zn-Nanobiofertilizers along with various individual treatments i.e., plant leaf extracts, PGPR consortia, zinc salt and nanoparticles were evaluated by selecting Zea mays L. as test crop under wirehouse conditions. The NBF application showed significant increment in shoot length, root length, number of leaves, fresh weight, protein content and chlorophyll content of treated plants as compared to control and all other treatments. Nano-biofertilizers (NBFs) improved plant health and yield by synergistic effect of PGPR and Zn-nanoparticles.
Azadirachta Indica, Coriandrum Sativum, Green Synthesis, Nanoparticles, Nanobiofertilizers, PGPR, Zea Mays.