Synthesis and surface modification of Zinc Nano rods using vermiwash of Eudrilus eugeniae and Functionalization to seed germination of green gram Vigna radiata

The present study reports biosynthesis and characterization of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and its influence on seed germination in the pulse crop, green gram (Vigna radiata). The ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through the co-precipitation of Zinc acetate with sodium hydroxide vermiwash obtained from leaf litter compost of Earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. The UV- Visible spectrum of ZnO NPs shows an absorption peak at 366 nm with the band gap of 3.54 eV. The XRD study reveals that the synthesized ZnO are of the hexagonal structure with the average crystalline size of 30 nm. The FTIR study confirms the interaction of ZnO with specific functional groups of enzymes presented in the Eudrilus eugeniae compost. SEM study shows the formation of ZnO as agglomeration of nano rods like morphology having the width of 65 nm and the length of 213 nm. The EDAX study confirms the presence of Zinc and Oxygen. The TEM and SAD pattern also reveals that the prepared ZnO NPs are having the rod like morphology and having the width and length of 3 nm and 23 nm respectively. The seed germination of green gram (V. radiata) using different concentrations of ZnO NPs also studied and the detailed results are presented and discussed.