The long-term use of chemical fertilizers to maintain agricultural production has had various harmful effects on farmland and has greatly impacted agriculture's sustainable expansion. Graphene, a unique and effective nanomaterial, is used in plant-soil applications to improve plant nutrient uptake, reduce chemical fertilizer pollution by relieving inadequate soil nutrient conditions and enhance soil absorption of nutrient components. We investigated the effects of graphene amendment on nutrient content, maize growth, and soil physicochemical parameters. In each treatment, 5 graphene concentration gradients (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g kg⁻¹) were applied in 2 different types (single-layer and few-layers, SL and FL). Soil aggregates, soil accessible nutrients, soil enzyme activity, plant nutrients, plant height, stem diameter, dry weight, and fresh weight were all measured throughout the maize growth to the V3 stage. Compared to the control (0 g kg⁻¹), we found that graphene increased the percentage of large agglomerates (0.25–10 mm) in the soil and significantly increased the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of > 0.25 mm water-stable agglomerates as the increase of concentration. Soil available nutrient content (AN, AP, and AK) increased, peaking at 150 g kg⁻¹. Graphene boosted nutrient absorption by maize plants, and aboveground total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents rose with the increasing application, which raised aboveground fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and stalk thickness. The findings above confirmed our prediction that adding graphene to the soil may improve maize plant biomass by enhancing soil fertility and improving the soil environment. Given the higher manufacturing cost of single-layer graphene and the greater effect of few-layer graphene on soil and maize plants at the same concentration, single-layer graphene and few-layer graphene at a concentration of 50 g kg⁻¹ were the optimal application rates.

Maize seedlings in cold regions and high latitude often face abiotic stress. As a result, weak seedlings affect maize production, The commonly used seed coating agents in production are mainly to prevent biological stress of pests and diseases, and have little effect on seedling vigor and abiotic resistance. In this experiment, the combination of graphene oxide (GO) and seed coating agent can effectively prevent pests and diseases and increase the growth of seedlings.The effects of different concentrations of composite GO seed coating agent on photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen metabolism activity of maize were verified by pot experiments. It provides a reference for the application of nanomaterials in maize seed adjuvant technology and the improvement of maize seedling quality. Using maize as a model plant, the study evaluates, 22 g/L(T1), 44 g/L(T2), 66 g/L(T3), and 88 g/L(T4), GO were add respectively. Commercial seed coating agent as control (Con). Under the conditions of this experiment, GO thickened the stem by regulating the nutrients absorption of the roots in maize seedlings. The leaf thickness and vascular bundle area were increased, the photosynthetic efficiency of leaves were improved. Finally, it promoted the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of maize seedling leaves. Therefore, 44 g/L GO is the most suitable concentration as a coating agent in this experiment.

The multi-factor coupling mechanism of droplet impact dynamics remains unclear due to insufficient analysis of leaf structure–droplet interaction and inadequate integration of simulations and experiments, limiting precision pesticide application. To address this, we developed a droplet impact model using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method combined with high-speed camera experiments and systematically analyzed the effects of impact velocity, angle, and droplet size on slip behavior via response surface methodology. Methodologically, we innovatively integrated 3D reverse modeling technology to reconstruct soybean leaf microstructures, overcoming the limitations of traditional planar models that ignore topological features. This approach, coupled with the VOF method, enabled precise tracking of droplet spreading, retraction, and slip processes. Scientifically, our study advances beyond previous single-factor analyses by revealing the synergistic mechanisms of impact parameters through response surface methodology, identifying impact angle as the most critical factor (42.3% contribution), followed by velocity (28.7%) and droplet size (19.5%). Model validation demonstrated high consistency between simulation predictions and experimental observations, confirming its reliability. Practically, the optimized parameter combination (90° impact angle, 1.5 m/s velocity, and 300 μm droplet size) reduced slip displacement by over 50% compared to non-optimized conditions, providing a quantitative tool for spray parameter control. This work enhances the understanding of droplet–leaf interaction mechanisms and offers technical guidance for improving pesticide deposition efficiency in agricultural production.

The long-term use of chemical fertilizers to maintain agricultural production has had various harmful effects on farmland and has greatly impacted agriculture's sustainable expansion. Graphene, a unique and effective nanomaterial, is being used in plant-soil applications to improve plant nutrient uptake, boost fertilizer use, and reduce chemical fertilizer pollution by relieving inadequate soil nutrient conditions and enhancing soil absorption of nutrient components. We investigated the effects of graphene fertilizer on nutrient content, maize growth, and soil physicochemical parameters. In each treatment, graphene concentration gradients (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g·kg^− 1) were applied in two distinct layers to the soil (single-layer and few-layers). Soil aggregates, soil accessible nutrients, soil enzyme activity, plant nutrients, plant height, stem thickness, dry weight, and fresh weight were all measured throughout maize growth to V3 stage. Compared to the control (0 g·kg^− 1), we found that graphene increased the percentage of large agglomerates (0.25-10 mm) in the soil and significantly increased the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of > 0.25 mm water-stable agglomerates as the increase of concentration. Soil available nutrient content (AN, AP, and AK) increased, peaking at 150 g·kg^− 1. Graphene boosted nutrient absorption by maize plants, and aboveground total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents rose with the increasing application, which raised aboveground fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and stalk thickness. The findings above confirmed our prediction that adding graphene to the soil may improve maize plant biomass by enhancing soil fertility and improving the soil environment. Given the higher manufacturing cost of single-layer graphene and the greater effect of few-layer graphene on soil and maize plants at the same concentration, single-layer graphene and few-layer graphene at a concentration of 50 g·kg^− 1 were the optimal application rates.

With the development of nanotechnology, the entry of nanomaterials like graphene into the soil environment may lead to a series of unknown consequences, which mainly affect soil nitrogen forms, enzyme activities and maize yield and quality. Four different amount graphene was applied to soil, soil aggregate, nitrogen content and enzyme activities were determined at the tasseling stage (VT), silking stage (R1) and maturing stage (R6) respectively. The results showed that graphene treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased the total content of soil aggregates > 0.25 mm. G2 and G3 treatments notably increased GMD and MWD of soil aggregates, G1-G4 treatments significantly raised WSA, and ELT and D values decreased significantly. There was no significant difference in total nitrogen (TN) content from the VT to R6 growth period compared with the CF treatment, G2, G3, and G4 significantly increased available nitrogen (AN) content. Graphene treatments (G1-G3) increased ammonium nitrogen (NH ₄ ⁺ -N) content at VT and R1; and G1-G4 significantly increased nitrate nitrogen (NO ₃ ⁻ -N) content from VT to R6. The activities of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase first rose then fell, and graphene improved protease compared with CF. The yield in the G3 treatment significantly increased by 10.81%. Compared to CF, maize kernel’s albumin, gluten and alcohol soluble protein content first increase then decrease with increasing graphene application, Consider comprehensively, our results indicate that 5 g·kg ^− 1 graphene was the most appropriate treatment in this experiment.