Nano-selenium coordinates plant-microbiome redox for sustainable crops.
Waqas M, Yaning C, White JC, Berg G, Geilfus CM
Soil Health
Farmers growing the wheat in your bread loaf may soon spray a trace-mineral mist instead of heavy fertilizer loads — shrinking the nitrous oxide plume that drifts from those fields into your watershed.
Scientists discovered that ultra-small particles of selenium, applied directly to plant leaves, help plants photosynthesize better and also feed helpful soil bacteria around the roots. Those bacteria then cycle nitrogen more efficiently, meaning crops need less synthetic fertilizer to grow well. The result is healthier plants, cleaner soil, and fewer planet-warming gases released from farm fields.
Key Findings
Foliar nano-selenium application enhanced photosynthesis and root carbon allocation simultaneously, linking above-ground and below-ground plant processes.
Nitrogen use efficiency improved under reduced fertilizer inputs, suggesting crops can produce comparable yields with less synthetic nitrogen.
Rhizosphere microbial communities showed improved function and nitrogen cycling, with measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Tiny selenium particles sprayed on plant leaves act as a bridge between the plant's own energy systems and the soil microbes around its roots, boosting how efficiently crops use fertilizer nitrogen while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Abstract Preview
Foliar selenium nanomaterials act as redox-active coordinators linking photosynthesis, root carbon allocation, and rhizosphere microbiomes. By enhancing photosynthesis, nitrogen cycling, and microb...
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