Mechanistic Insights into Green-Synthesized Polymer-Stabilized Cobalt Oxide Nanocomposites for Enhancing Germination and Seedling Vigor of Vigna aconitifolia Aconitifolia

Abstract

Green synthesis provides a potentially sustainable route for producing nanomaterials for agricultural applications. The present study describes an environmentally sustainable approach to the eco-friendly synthesis of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilised cobalt oxide (Co2O3) nanoparticles using Cannabis sativa (bhang) leaf extract as a natural reducing and capping material. This green synthesis technique minimises the use of harmful chemicals, making the process eco-friendly, economical, and sustainable. The synthesised PVP/Co2O3 nanocomposites were characterised using UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to confirm their optical, structural, morphological, elemental, and thermal properties. Their biological activity was evaluated by investigating their effects on seed germination and early seedling growth in moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia). Various concentrations of PVP/Co2O3 nanocomposites were applied to assess their effects on germination percentage, root length, shoot length, seedling vigour, and biomass. The observations showed that an optimum nanoparticle concentration improved seed germination and seedling growth compared with the untreated control, whereas higher concentrations exhibited inhibitory effects associated with nanoparticle-induced stress. Overall, bhang-extract-mediated PVP/Co2O3 nanocomposites show potential as environmentally friendly nanomaterials for improving crop establishment and supporting sustainable agricultural applications.