Effects of Biosynthesized Titanium Oxide Nanoparticle (TIO2 NPs) and Rice Compost on the Productivity of Mungbeans (Vigna radiata L.) as Orphan Legume Crop of Mungbeans (Vigna radiata L.) as Orphan Legume Crop

Background and Objective: Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) plays a crucial role in global food security, making it imperative to explore innovative approaches to enhance its productivity. The study aimed to determine the effects of biosynthesized Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) and rice compost on the overall productivity of the crop. Materials and Methods: A complete randomized experimental design was set up. Treatments were applied at different levels of concentration. Data were collected on growth, flowering, yield, physiological and biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed on the Minitab 16.0 using the one-way ANOVA. Treatment means were separated using the Fisher LSD method at p≤0.05 level of significance. Results: Significant differential responses to treatments (p<0.05) were recorded in plant height and leaf width at day 40 where rice compost at 7.5 g gave the tallest plant height (23.5 cm) and leaf width (5.2 cm). At day 60, rice compost at 7.5 g increased the number of leaves (23.9) and branches (12.4). The TiO₂ at 400 and 600 ppm influenced stem diameter and pod yield respectively while 200 ppm increased the number of seeds per pod. Rice compost at 5.0 g yielded high seed fiber while TiO₂ at 800 ppm and rice compost at 5.0 g yielded high chlorophyll in the leaf. Conclusion: Although the two treatment types did not perform better than the control (without treatment) in the physiological and biochemical yield of the plant, rice compost was found to be an effective growth enhancer at 7.5 g level while titanium oxide nanoparticles at lower doses (20-60 ppm) improved stem diameter and pod production. They are recommended as biofertilizers in the production of mungbean, as an orphan legume crop, to boost food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.