Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of nanoparticles of clodinofop propargyl and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl on weed control, growth, and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Nanoherbicides are articulated by exploiting the prospective of nanotechnology for effectively delivering chemical and biological herbicides using nanomaterial-based herbicide combinations. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction and FT-IR. On the targeted weeds, the nanoherbicides were sprayed at the third to fourth leaf stage. Six different doses were applied. The mortality and visual injury caused by both chitosan-based nanoherbicides reached 100% at the recommended dose of standard herbicide. The 5-fold lower dose exhibited weed density and maximum wheat yield and related parameters. For the same traits, the nanoherbicide at 10-fold lower dose of commercial herbicides showed a comparable influence as the suggested dose. The size of both herbicides was found to be 35-65 nm. It was observed that the clodinofop-propargyl nanoherbicide has an intense peak appearing at a 2 theta value of 29.83(degrees), corresponding to the (176) plane of the anatase phase and NPs of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl showed an intense peak around the 2 theta value of 30.55(degrees) corresponding to the (74) plane of the anatase phase. The FT-IR spectra of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl clearly showed that the major functional groups were located in the FT-IR region between 610 and 1,840 cm(-1) and the major functional ones of clodinofop propargyl were located in the FT-IR region between 640 and 1,740 cm(-1). Nanoherbicides could restore the efficacy of conventional herbicides by improving stability and reducing toxicity.