Synergistic effects of organic fertilizer and copper-calcium nanoparticles on onion growth and storage under arid conditions.
Bakr AAEMA, Lamlom SF, El-Shaieny AAH, Abdelghany AM, Abdalla RM
Crop Improvement
Growing onions in near-desert soil with little water is a real challenge facing farmers across North Africa and the Middle East, and this study charts a practical path to meaningfully higher harvests and longer shelf life using materials that could scale to smallholder farms.
Scientists tested whether spraying onion plants with tiny particles of copper and calcium minerals—alongside adding sugarcane compost to the soil—could help them grow better in extremely dry, nutrient-poor conditions. The sweet spot was a low-to-moderate amount of copper particles combined with a higher dose of calcium particles and the compost, which pushed yields well above the untreated control. Too much copper without enough calcium backfired, actually shrinking yields, so balance turned out to be the key.
Key Findings
Combining sugarcane compost (30 t/ha) with low-to-moderate copper nanoparticles (10–20 mg/L) and high calcium nanoparticles (150 mg/L) raised onion yields to 42–45 t/ha, a 15–21% increase over untreated controls.
Excessive copper nanoparticles (30 mg/L) without sufficient calcium caused phytotoxicity, dropping yields to just 21–29 t/ha—well below the control.
Tissue copper concentrations spanned a wide range (6–39 mg/kg) depending on treatment, highlighting a narrow window between beneficial nutrition and toxic accumulation.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers in Egypt found that combining organic compost with small doses of copper and calcium nanoparticles sprayed on onion leaves can boost yields by 15–21% in harsh, dry environments—but too much copper without enough calcium causes crop damage.
Abstract Preview
Onion (Allium cepa L.) production in hyper-arid environments is constrained by poor soil fertility, limited water availability, and post-harvest losses that reduce market viability. The interactive...
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