22.1% yield increase
Upon harvest, the research team observed a 22.1% increase in yield from the rice plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles compared to the control group grown with just water.
Upon closer examination, it was found that the rice grains from the zinc oxide-treated plants exhibited higher nutrient content.
“This study revealed that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs; 30 to 80 nm, 0.67 mg/d per plant, 6 d) to rice leaves under heatwave (HW) stress increased the grain yield and nutritional quality,” the study noted.