Dataset on the effects of Zn-Al-NO3 layered double hydroxide and ZnSO4 on maize and soil: morphology, Zn bioaccumulation, soil chemistry, soil enzymatic activities and leachate chemistry

This dataset contains data from a 19-day pot experiment evaluating the effectiveness of Zn-Al-NO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a zinc nanofertiliser for maize, compared with conventional ZnSO4 fertilisation. Maize plants (Zea mays L., Golden Bantam variety) were grown in Lufa 2.2. natural standard soil under controlled growth-chamber conditions - temperature 25 °C/20 °C (day/night), photoperiod 16 h/8 h (day/night), light intensity 350 µmol m-2 s-1. The experiment included a control (0 mg Zn/kg), ZnSO4 at 2 mg Zn/kg soil, and Zn-Al-NO3 LDH at nominal concentrations of 1, 2 and 4 mg Zn/kg soil, corresponding to half, the recommended and twice the recommended Zn fertilisation dose. The dataset includes: - Maize seed germination, shoot length, root and shoot fresh weight, root and shoot dry weight; - Zn concentrations in roots and shoots; - Soil-related measurements include soil enzymatic activities, including dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and urease; DTPA-extractable Zn measured over time; total Zn content in soil; soil pH and electrical conductivity; - Soil leachate measurements of Zn, nitrate, pH and electrical conductivity. Fertilisation was performed on 26 July 2022 (T−2), seeds were sown on 28 July 2022 (T0), and final sampling was conducted on 16 August 2022 (T19). Plant morphology, plant Zn accumulation, total soil Zn and leachate chemistry were assessed at the end of the experiment (T19). Soil enzymatic activities, soil pH and soil electrical conductivity were measured at the beginning (T0) and end of the experiment (T19). DTPA-extractable Zn was measured at T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T9 and T19. Sixteen pots were prepared per treatment: 13 biological replicates were used for plant growth and soil enzymatic measurements, and three additional replicates were used for total soil Zn, DTPA extraction and leachate analysis.