H.O. Shittu

The increasing global demand for food, coupled with the imperative for sustainable agricultural practices, has driven interest in nanofertilizers as efficient alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers. This study examined the effects of macronutrient nanofertilizers synthesized from banana peels on the germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seed. Macronutrient nanofertilizer was biosynthesized. Five treatment concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were evaluated for germination performance, including the first day of germination (FDG), the last day of germination (LDG), the peak period of germination (PPG), the median germination time (MeGT), the mean daily germination (MDG), the time spread of germination (TSG), and the final germination percentage (FGP). The results showed that moderate concentrations (25–50%) improved germination speed and uniformity. The 25% treatment had the earliest FDG (4.5 days), and the 50% treatment had the highest MDG (33.30). In contrast, excessive application (100%) reduces final germination percentage (12%) compared to the control (22%), indicating inhibitory effects at higher levels. The relatively stable LDG across treatments suggested that nanofertilizers primarily influenced initiation and rate of germination rather than completion. Overall, the findings highlight that nanofertilizers can enhance the dynamics of tomato seed germination when applied at optimal concentration, but over-application compromises seed germination. This study underscores the potential of banana peel-based nanofertilizers as a sustainable agricultural input, emphasizing the importance of dosage optimization for improved crop establishment.