article · Journal of King Abdulaziz University-Meteorology Environment and Arid Land Agriculture Sciences
Applying silica nanoparticles stimulates both the germination and early growth of cucumber seeds. Testing suspension concentrations ranging from zero to 400 milligrams per litre demonstrated that all nano-silica treatments improve seed germination and growth development compared with untreated controls. The concentration of 200 milligrams per litre delivers the strongest results across several key metrics. At this specific level, final germination rises by nearly twenty-nine percent, germination speed increases by over seventy percent, and both germination index and vigour index show substantial gains. This optimal rate also accelerates the sprouting process, decreasing the mean germination time by almost thirty-two percent. Furthermore, seedlings treated with 200 milligrams per litre achieve the highest fresh and dry weights. These findings show that targeted concentrations of nano-silica can effectively enhance early crop establishment in cucumber cultivation.
Uniform and rapid seed germination is essential for reliable crop yields and efficient farm management. Demonstrating that silica nanoparticles can significantly shorten germination time and improve seedling vigour provides a practical method to improve early plant establishment. This knowledge can assist agricultural practitioners in enhancing crop stands and optimising early growth stages for cucumber crops.
This work points towards potential applications in seed treatment formulations and agricultural biostimulants for horticultural growers and seed companies. By identifying 200 milligrams per litre as an effective concentration for cucumber seeds, the research provides a specific baseline for product development. Because the findings are based on laboratory germination tests, the technology remains at an early, experimental stage and requires field validation before commercial deployment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Five rates of nano-silica (NS) suspensions (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg L-1) were used to study their effects on seed germination and growth development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The rate of 200 mg L-1 significantly increased final germination%, germination speed, vigor index, and germination index by 28.7, 70.3, 46.7 and 68.8 %, respectively, compared to untreated seeds. However, it reduced the mean germination time by 31.7%. Similarly, 200 mg L-1 NS had the highest fresh and dry weight of germinant. However, all NS treatments enhanced the seed germination and growth development in comparison to control.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.4197/met.28-1.6
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
