NANOPHOSPHORUS FOR IMPROVING FODDER BEAT GROWTH UNDER SALINITY STRESS CONDITIONS

Application of nanotchnology in agriculture under stress condition is an important approach and still needs more efforts to cover its benefits and hazardous. In this respect, a pot experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the NRC, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, for studying the responses of some growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments and nutrients content of fodder beet plant (at mid-season) to nanophosphorus (nano P) fertilizer application under different salinity levels. Two rates of diluted seawater were applied for irrigation (S1=3000 and S2=6000 ppm), in addition to tap water (TW= 257 ppm) that was used as a control. Two concentrations of nano P were sprayed (n-P1=0.5, n-P2= 1.0 gL-1) besides distilled water as a control (C). Although there is a significant improvement in the root length, fresh and dry weight of root and whole plant, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll a+b in consequence of spraying nano P fertilizer, leaves number, root diameter, fresh and dry weight of top, nutrient concentrations (N, P, K, Ca, Na%) and content, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in plant top (mg/plant) as well as nutrient concentrations and proteins in root not significantly affected by adding nano P. Further studies on using nano-P compared with the conventional fertilizers and their effects on the environment are recommended.