A Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Technology Applied in Dilute Nutrient Solution Accelerated Establishment of Zoysiagrass.

Use of nanoparticles in agriculture is anticipated to have beneficial outcomes, including the potential for improving nutrient delivery to plants. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs), which can be produced through a variety of processes, are generally hydrophilic porous matierals with high surface area and charge and have been shown to be taken up and mobilized by plants. Untreated MSNPs have interacted with plant nutrition in controlled studies, but little research has been conducted in the field. In this study, we tested the impact of a commercially available MSNP technology on establishment of two turfgrasses from sprigs in North Central Florida. Treatments included combinations of MSNPs (- NP and + NP), which were foliarly applied in dilute nutrient solution, and two rates of background fertility (High and Low Fertility), which were applied by granular fertilizer. All treatments were applied weekly. MSNPs were effective in enhancing the rate of establishment in zoysiagrass in combination wtih both High and Low Fertility. For the Low Fertility + NP treatment, this gave a substantial improvement in nutrient-use efficiency, as establishment was just 7.6% less than the High Fertility - NP treatment with 75% less fertilizer. No impact was observed on bermudagrass. Tissue nutrient concentrations indicated the most likely nutrients limiting growth were K, Mg, Ca, Zn, and Mn. The results suggest MSNPs provided more effective delivery of one or more limiting nutrients to zoysiagrass than nutrients from other sources, enhancing the rate of growth. MSNPs offer the potential to establish turfgrasses with lower fertilizer inputs.