Maize seeds quickly germinate and become thriving seedlings when primed with fertiliser made from nanoparticles extracted from an indigenous African herb, impepho.
This potent herb (helichrysum odoratissimum), also known as kooigoed and African sage, is at the centre of the research of Dr Bongiwe Dhlamini-Zungu, a recent PhD graduate in chemistry from the North-West University (NWU). Her study focused on developing nano-engineered, environmentally friendly fertilisers designed to boost crop yields with reduced inputs.
Aiming to address food security and environmental sustainability, Dr Dhlamini-Zungu made zinc and iron oxide polysaccharide-based nanoparticles using extracts from impepho. Her study showed that impepho helped to make these nanoparticles by acting as a reducer and providing oxygen.
The nanoparticles were then covered with a chitosan biopolymer, an eco-friendly substance made from the outer skeleton of shellfish. This allows the nanoparticles to release nutrients slowly over time, ensuring the maize plants receive a steady supply of nutrients.
“The innovative aspect of my research was the application of these zinc oxide and chitosan-based nanoparticles as nano-priming agents on maize seeds,” Dr Dhlamini-Zungu says.
“The results were remarkable: seed germination and early seedling growth of maize were significantly improved, even under salinity stress conditions. This demonstrated the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing crop resilience and productivity in challenging environmental conditions.”
Dr Dhlamini-Zungu’s findings present a promising approach to promoting sustainable agriculture using indigenous plants. By leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles, her research offers a solution that not only enhances plant nutrition but also reduces the environmental footprint of agricultural practices. This aligns with global efforts to develop more sustainable and efficient agricultural systems.
More about Dr Dhlamini-Zungu
Dr Dhlamini-Zungu worked as a research assistant at the NWU, under the nanotechnology group in 2016 and as a student laboratory assistant at the subject group Chemistry from 2017 to 2022. She was a Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) institutional second runner-up and a national 3MT winner in 2022. Her PhD study was titled "Engineered polysaccharide-based nanoparticles as hybrid fertilizer for efficient plant nutrition and stress tolerance".
So far her PhD research has resulted in two published articles, "Nano-engineering metal-based fertilizers using biopolymers: An innovative strategy for a more sustainable agriculture” in 2022, and “Zn-nutrients-loaded chitosan nanocomposites and their efficacy as nano-priming agents for maize (Zea mays) seeds” in 2023.
Dr Bongiwe Dhlamini-Zungu.
