Effect of Activated Carbon Prepared from Leaflet of Date Palm Tree and Composite Nano silica/Activated Carbon on Growth and Productivity of Fenugreek Plant under Salinity Soil Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with completely randomized design to assess the impact of the foliar application of using activated carbon from leaflet of date palm tree as by product and composite nano silica/activated carbon to alleviate salinity stress on fenugreek plants. The prepared samples AC and SiO2/AC were characterized using zeta potentials, particle size distributions, EDX, FTIR, SBET and 
morphology description were done using SEM and TEM. All techniques confirmed the good distribution of SiO2 nanoparticles on surface of AC composite sample and particles size of SiO2/AC were found to be in the size range of 70–80 nm. Characterization results showed that surface area of AC prepared from leaflet of date palm tree using KOH as activating agent and SiO2/AC are 397.47m2/g and 656.33m2/g respectively. Through five foliar concentrations from sodium silicate, composite nano silica/activated carbon and activated carbon at (100, 300, 500, 700 and 1000 mgl-1) compared with untreated plants as control. Using of SiO2/AC could be a good way to deal with problem of soil salinity. As for, there were no significant effect among 100, 300, 500 mgl-1 SiO2/AC for EL% and MSI% in plant leaves. Foliar spraying with 500 mgl-1 SiO2/AC improved different aspects of growth parameters, nutrient elements, amino acids and protein content in seeds. Furthermore, 300 mgl-1 SiO2/AC gave the highest weight of 100 seeds, weight of seeds yields ton fed-1 and improved quality of fixed oil. On other side, proline content through both seasons decreased by 46.02 and 38.78 % compared with control when 500 mgl-1 SiO2/ AC applied.