Navigating Ear Rot Disease: Solutions for Increasing Corn Yield in Sandy Soil

Through the demonstration of their antibacterial, catalytic, and UV-blocking qualities, the study draws attention to the potential advantages of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in plant nutrition systems. AgNPs were synthesized by reducing silver ions in a silver N-(2-ethylhexyl) carbamate solution with microwave assistance. The resulting AgNPs of controlled size were characterized using UV-visible spectra, TEM, EDX, and zeta potential analysis. These findings led to the implementation of a field trial at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Egypt during the summers of 2022 and 2023 to optimize crop yield while minimizing ear rot disease incidence through the proper mineral nitrogen (N) rate application and AgNPs sprays. Three replications of the experiment were conducted using a split-plot design, wherein the main plots represented mineral N fertilizer rates (240, 264, and 288 kg N/ha) and subplots represented AgNPs treatments (the control treatment "without AgNPs spray", 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 cm/l of AgNPs). The results demonstrated that increasing N rates significantly enhanced corn growth and yield components, with the optimal rate being 288 kg N/ha, leading to reduced ear rot disease incidence and severity. Corn showed the highest yield traits when AgNPs were sprayed at a rate of 7.5 cm/l when corn plants received 288 kg N/ha. Additionally, the incidence and severity of ear rot disease were significantly reduced. The application of 288 kg N/ha and 7.5 cm/l AgNPs led to the highest grain yield and the lowest incidence of ear rot disease in corn under sandy soil conditions.