Nano fertilizer synergist effects on nitrogen utilization and related gene expression in wheat

The application of nano materials is one of the current hot spots in agricultural production. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of different nano fertilizer synergists on nitrogen (N) utilization and related gene expression in wheat. The experiments were carried out in pot and field conditions at the West-Coast Economic New Area experimental base and Greenhouse of Qingdao Agricultural University. Seven treatments were set up: CK (compound fertilizer), T1 (compound fertilizer + 0.3% nano carbon synergist), T2 (compound fertilizer + 0.3% nano calcium carbonate synergist), T3 (compound fertilizer + 0.3% composite nano synergist), T4 (70% compound fertilizer + 0.3% nano carbon synergist), T5 (70% compound fertilizer + 0.3% nano calcium carbonate synergist), T6 (70% compound fertilizer + 0.3% composite nano synergist). The results showed that compared with CK, the N accumulation of T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 increased by 40–50%, 30–40%, 55–65%, 20–30%, 15–20% and 30–40%, respectively; and the N use efficiency increased by 12–19%, 9–18%, 16–22%, 5–17%, 4–16% and 10–20% respectively. And the gene expression levels of TaNRT2.2, TaNRT2.3, TaGS1 and TaGS2 in the treatments with synergistic phosphate fertilizer were significantly higher than those in the CK. The application of nano fertilizer synergist can significantly improve N accumulation, N use efficiency, and promote the expression of genes related to N transport and metabolism.