Copper sulfide nanoparticles improve soybean (Glycine max L.) plant biochemical characteristics and agronomic...

Nanotechnology is evolving as ground breaking tool in agriculture that presents promising applications for improved plant growth and productivity. This study explores the influence of soil applied copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) at 8 Kg/ha on the growth, biochemical profile, and oil quality parameters of Glycine max under field environment in one season. CuS NPs significantly improved the agronomic parameters i.e., root length, shoot length, number of branches per plant, dry weight per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, and oil content percentage as compared to control plants. Antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents) significantly increased to reduce the oxidative stress induced by NPs. Biochemical investigation also showed that CuS NPs significantly improved protein content, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, and total reducing power in shoots. Atomic absorption spectroscopy demonstrated the highest concentration of Cu in soil, followed by accumulation in root> shoot> seed of G. max. Oil quality analysis via FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR indicated minor dissimilarities in oil properties extracted from G. max, without any significant variation in the overall fatty acid profile of treated plants. The findings demonstrate the potential of CuS NPs as an effective soil amendment for promoting plant growth and biochemical properties, and better plant productivity without compromising the oil quality.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04845-5.