Efficient mitigation of cadmium and lead toxicity in coriander plant utilizing magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanofertilizer as growth regulator and antimicrobial agent

ABSTRACT

In the present study, Chemical Co-precipitation method was used to synthesize magnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles and applied them as fertilizer. Various sophisticated techniques were employed to confirm the surface morphology and crystalline structure of engineered nanomaterial i.e. TEM, FESEM, FTIR, XRD and BET. The growth and mitigation effects were evaluated in the Coriander plant (root, shoot and leaves) using Fe₃O₄ NPs, NPK and without fertilizer in artificially contaminated soil with cadmium and lead solutions (20 mg/L) through ICP-OES. The mitigation percentage in coriander was found to be 97.37, 81.12, 77.79 (Cd) 98.45, 80.77, 75.89 (Pb) using 10 mg/L Fe₃O₄ NPs, 100 mg/L NPK and without fertilizer respectively. On the other hand, growth effects were observed in length, 53.3, 33.02, 25.4 cm (Cd) 48.26, 43.18, 38.1 cm (Pb) using similar doses of Fe₃O₄ NPs, NPK and without fertilizer respectively.Moreover, excellent antibacterial activity was being disclosed by efficient Fe₃O₄ NPsagainst Gram positive and negative bacterium.

KEYWORDS:

• Nano-Fe₃O₄
• nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK)
• mitigation
• heavy metals
• coriander plant
• antibacterial screening

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).