Seed priming of fenugreek seeds with silica nanoparticles: Enhanced growth economics and sustainable agricultural practices

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of various concentrations of nano-silica on the germination process of fenugreek seeds. The agro-waste materials such as rice husk, corn cobs and bagasse were used as a precursor for synthesizing nano-silica. Moreover, their formation was confirmed by assessing their structural phase formation, elemental composition and functional group. For seed priming of fenugreek seeds, nano-silica concentrations of 100 – 400 mg/L were utilized. 

Results: The agro-waste-derived nano-silica was crystalline, with 46.37 nm in size and a surface area of 361.706 m2/g. The germination percentages of all fenugreek seedlings were intensely enhanced by applying nano-silica priming. The nano-silica-treated fenugreek seedlings showed 68.5% germination during day one, reaching their maximum during day 4. It also showed increased root length (8.6 -10 cm), shoot length (6.2 - 7 cm) and leaf size (1.71 - 3.08 cm2) compared with control. Furthermore, it positively influenced fenugreek seeds’ silica, chlorophyll, and polyphenol content. 

Conclusion: The findings indicated that treating the fenugreek seeds with nano-silica could enhance their germination by boosting the antioxidant system, thereby safeguarding the plants against oxidative stress. Nevertheless, additional investigations are necessary to ascertain the hazardous impact of nano-silica concentration before its widespread production and use in agricultural applications.