Influences of Air, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon Dioxide Nanobubbles on Seed Germination and Plant Growth

J Agric Food Chem. 2018 May 23;66(20):5117-5124. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00333. Epub 2018 May 8.

Abstract

Nanobubbles (NBs) hold promise in green and sustainable engineering applications in diverse fields (e.g., water/wastewater treatment, food processing, medical applications, and agriculture). This study investigated the effects of four types of NBs on seed germination and plant growth. Air, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide NBs were generated and dispersed in tap water. Different plants, including lettuce, carrot, fava bean, and tomato, were used in germination and growth tests. The seeds in water-containing NBs exhibited 6-25% higher germination rates. Especially, nitrogen NBs exhibited considerable effects in the seed germination, whereas air and carbon dioxide NBs did not significantly promote germination. The growth of stem length and diameter, leave number, and leave width were promoted by NBs (except air). Furthermore, the promotion effect was primarily ascribed to the generation of exogenous reactive oxygen species by NBs and higher efficiency of nutrient fixation or utilization.

Keywords: nanobubbles; plant growth; seed germination; sustainable agricultural watering.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Daucus carota / growth & development
  • Daucus carota / metabolism
  • Germination
  • Lactuca / growth & development
  • Lactuca / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / chemistry*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seeds / growth & development*
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Solanum lycopersicum / growth & development
  • Solanum lycopersicum / metabolism
  • Vicia faba / growth & development
  • Vicia faba / metabolism

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen