Response of Syngonium podophyllum to Nano and Chemical Fertilizers in a Sustainable Aquaponic Farming System

Amid efforts to integrate advanced technologies into agriculture, aquaponics has emerged as an integrated solution for developing sustainable agricultural systems. It combines aquaculture and soil-less culture, providing an ideal environment for plant growth. Based on this, research was conducted to propagate Syngonium podophyllum using this technology, while also studying the effect of synthetic nano-NPK fertilizer and comparing it with conventional NPK fertilizer on the growth and propagation of this plant. The experimental data conclusively demonstrated that foliar application of nano-NPK fertilizer at 1 and 2 mg L-1 concentrations enhanced key plant grow parameter (p<0.05), contributed to stimulating plant growth, particularly plant height and stem diameter. It also noted an increase in the length of the longest root. Furthermore, the concentrations of nitrogen and potassium in treated plants significantly increased compared to conventional fertilizers, both of which outperformed the control treatment. Chlorophyll and carotene concentrations also increased, reaching 22.664 and 102.86 mg L-1, respectively, when fertilized with nano-NPK fertilizer at a concentration of 1 mg L-1. This is due to the unique properties of nano-fertilizers, such as increased absorption, slow release of nutrients, and other advantages. These results open new horizons for enhancing the efficiency of aquaponic systems through nanotechnology applications, contributing to higher productivity and better quality of plant crops, supporting the development of modern agriculture in Iraq.