Uptake and effect of nano bone char in Syngonium podophyllum under hydroponics and soil systems

Abstract

The use of nanotechnology in terms of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, etc., when exposed to the environment, including plants, animals, and humans help increase their productivity. Understanding the fate of these nanomaterials naturally present in our environment or introduced by anthropogenic activities is important. Waste bones are largely produced from the precipitously growing meat sector across the globe, which can be converted to bone char through the process of pyrolysis in an oxygen-deficient environment. Bone char is free from heavy metals and organic contaminants and is a rich source of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. All these nutrients significantly contribute to the growth of the plant. This study focused on the uptake of nano bone char in the Syngonium podophyllum plant, and its impact on the plant growth under both the hydroponics and soil systems. The techniques used for the detection of nano bone char in the plants tissues include compound microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The compound microscopy and SEM results confirmed the presence of nano bone char particles in the leaves and roots of the plants under both hydroponics and soil systems. To observe the effects of nano bone char on plants growth, various parameters including fresh weight, dry weight, root length, shoot length, chlorophyll content, leaf count, total calcium, and phosphates were determined. The hydroponics plants show increase in fresh weight (76.90%), dry weight (123.17%), shoot length (25.29%), chlorophyll content (18.41%) and leaf count (100%) in highest treatment of 500 mg/L as compared to control. The EDX results showed higher contents of carbon (61.64%), phosphorus (0.62%) and calcium (0.95%) for 500 mg/L treated hydroponics plant, as compared to control. Likewise, the soil plants also showed increase in fresh weight (82.50%), dry weight (250%), shoot length (32.0%), root length (37.70%), chlorophyll content (17.6%) and leaf count (100%) in treatment dose of 0.50% than control. The EDX results for soil system plants showed higher contents of carbon (65.79%), phosphorus (1.01%), and calcium (3.45%) for 0.50% treatment as compared to control. It is concluded that the utilization of bone waste in the form of nano bone char will not only reduce the risk associated with the waste but also open a new window for the application of nanotechnology.