Abstract
Abiotic factors, such as drought, can significantly impact the vegetative growth and productivity of maize. To investigate the effects of the combined foliar application of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) nanoparticles with the recommended nitrogen dose (RND) on maize production and grain chemical composition under different water regimes, two field experiments were conducted in El-Ayyat city, Giza, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023. This study utilized a split-split-plot experimental design with three replications. The main plots were designated to different water regimes (100, 80, 60, and 40% of estimated evapotranspiration), while the sub-plots were randomly distributed with Zn and Fe nanoparticle concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mg/L). The sub-sub-plots were randomly allocated to three maize cultivars (SC-P3062, SC-32D99, and SC-P3433). The results revealed that exposure to drought conditions resulted in a significant decline in the yield and yield-related attributes across all maize cultivars examined. Grain yield decreased by 10–50% under drought conditions. However, the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions. The foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/L to the SC-P3433 maize cultivar led to the greatest grain yield per hectare, reaching 11,749 and 11,657 kg under the irrigation regimes with 100 and 80% total evapotranspiration, respectively. According to the assessment using the relative drought index, the SC-P3062 maize cultivar demonstrated tolerance (T) to water stress conditions. In conclusion, the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles (100–200 mg/L) effectively mitigated the negative effects of drought stress on maize plants. This approach can be recommended for farmers in arid and semi-arid regions to maintain and improve maize yield and grain quality under water-deficit conditions.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Drought significantly reduced maize yield and yield-related attributes.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“exposure to drought conditions resulted in a significant decline in the yield and yield-related attributes across all maize cultivars examined.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain yield fell by 10–50% under drought.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain yield decreased by 10–50% under drought conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved grain yield.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved protein content.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved oil content.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved starch content.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved crude fiber.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved ash.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles significantly improved macro- and micronutrient concentrations.
- Treatment
- foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticlese0
- Outcome
- macro- and micronutrient concentrationse0
- Direction
- improvee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles was found to significantly improve grain yield, protein content, oil content, starch content, crude fiber, ash, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the maize cultivars under control and drought stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
SC-P3433 with 200 mg/L foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles had the greatest grain yield at 100% evapotranspiration: 11,749 kg per hectare.
- Material
- SC-P3433e0
- Treatment
- foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/Le0
- Outcome
- grain yield per hectaree0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Value
- 11,749e0
- Qualifier
- 100e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/L to the SC-P3433 maize cultivar led to the greatest grain yield per hectare, reaching 11,749 and 11,657 kg under the irrigation regimes with 100 and 80% total evapotranspiration, respectively.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
SC-P3433 with 200 mg/L foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles had the greatest grain yield at 80% evapotranspiration: 11,657 kg per hectare.
- Material
- SC-P3433e0
- Treatment
- foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/Le0
- Outcome
- grain yield per hectaree0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Value
- 11,657 kge0
- Qualifier
- 80e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/L to the SC-P3433 maize cultivar led to the greatest grain yield per hectare, reaching 11,749 and 11,657 kg under the irrigation regimes with 100 and 80% total evapotranspiration, respectively.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
SC-P3062 was classified tolerant to water stress by relative drought index.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the SC-P3062 maize cultivar demonstrated tolerance (T) to water stress conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend foliar Zn and Fe nanoparticles at 100–200 mg/L to sustain maize yield and grain quality under water deficits.
- Treatment
- foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles (100–200 mg/L)e0
- Outcome
- maize yield and grain qualitye0
- Setting
- arid and semi-arid regionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the foliar application of Zn and Fe nanoparticles (100–200 mg/L) effectively mitigated the negative effects of drought stress on maize plants. This approach can be recommended for farmers in arid and semi-arid regions to maintain and improve maize yield and grain quality under water-deficit conditions.”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
t1“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
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8 of 23 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.