Manganese zinc spinel ferrite (Mn
A method of fertilizing a plant including applying a composition to a root of the plant. The composition includes a spinel ferrite with a formula of Mn x Zn y Fe 2 O 4 , where x+y=1. Particles of the spinel ferrite are spherical and have an average diameter of 10-20 nm. The plant has at least a 40% increase in leaf size compared to a plant under the same conditions but without applying the composition.
1 . A method of fertilizing growing a pumpkin plant, comprising:
contacting the root system of a cultivated pumpkin plant, with an aqueous composition comprising:
from 100 mg L −1 to 200 mg L −1 of a spinel ferrite
having a cubic crystal system and in the form of spherical particles of Mn 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 having an average diameter of from 10 nm to 20 nm;
wherein the contacting comprises submerging at least partially the root system of the plant in the aqueous composition for a period of from 10 to 20 days.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer solution is continuously pumped with air during the contacting.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one compound selected from potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, manganese chloride, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, molybdic acid, sodium molybdate, ferric tartrate, iron (iii)-EDTA, and hydrates thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumpkin plant is cultivated at a temperature of from 22° C. to 25° C., a relative humidity of from 55% to 70%, and from 14 to 18 hours of light per day.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumpkin plant has at least a 40% increase in leaf size over the period compared to a plant cultivated under the same conditions but without contacting with the composition.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumpkin plant is a Cucurbita maxima pumpkin plant.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pesticide.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pesticide is attached to a surface of the particles of the spinel ferrite.
9 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein a leaf of the pumpkin plant has a saturation magnetization value of 0.3 emu/g after 7 days of contact with the solution.