Nano-fertilizers vs. conventional fertilizers

Formulation and delivery of nano-fertilizers in comparison to traditional fertilizers

In order to meet the needs of billions of people for food, the population growth of the last 10–15 years has forced farmers to produce more food. On the one hand, the increasing nutrient shortage in soils generates huge economic losses for farmers, while on the other, the nutritional quality of grain used for food and feed declines significantly. After the emergence of high yielding and fertilizer-responsive crop types, fertilizers play a secondary role in improving food production. Typically, conventional fertilizers are given to crops via spraying or broadcasting. One important thing that affects how the fertilizers are applied is how much of each one ends up in the plants. Conventional fertilizers provide plant nutrients in inaccessible chemical forms. Most macronutrients are also not used very much because these compounds change into forms that can't be dissolved in water in soil. Because of chemical leaching, drift, runoff, evaporation, hydrolysis by soil moisture, photolysis, and microbiological breakdown, the concentration at the targeted site is well below what is needed. It is thought that 40–70% of applied nitrogen, 80–90% of applied phosphorus, and 50–90% of applied potassium are lost to the environment and never reach the plant. These issues are exacerbated by the repeated usage of fertilizers. The International Fertilizer Industry Association says that the amount of fertilizer used around the world went up by 5–6% between 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. It is anticipated that global demand will reach 192,8 Mt in 2016–2017. The repeated use, in turn, has a negative impact on the soil's natural nutrient balance and resulting in environmental pollution that damages normal flora and wildlife. Reports show that using too much fertilizer makes plants more resistant to diseases and insects, reduces the number of microorganisms in the soil, slows down nitrogen fixation, causes pesticides to build up in the environment, and changes where birds live. This vicious cycle results in lasting economic damage.

Everyone knows that uneven fertilization and less organic matter in the soil have caused crop yields to start going down. Also, using too much nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer hurts groundwater and adds to the problem of aquatic habitats becoming too rich in nutrients. The leftover minerals could seep or leach into the ground and become immobile, or they could add to air pollution. In light of these facts, the widespread use of chemical fertilizers to improve crop yield cannot be considered a sustainable practice. Even though traditional fertilizers increase crop yield, they also upset the mineral balance of the soil and make it less fertile, especially in the long run. In addition to causing irreparable harm to the soil structure and mineral cycles, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers destroys the soil microflora, plants, and subsequently the food chains across ecosystems, resulting in heritable mutations in future generations of consumers. So, there is an immediate need to improve the way chemicals are used to fertilize crops so that crops get the nutrients they need while minimizing the risk of polluting the environment. So, it is important to make smart materials that can release chemicals at specific sites in plants in a controlled way. This could help control nutrient deficiencies in agriculture while keeping the natural structure of the soil and contributing to a clean environment. In this scenario, nanofertilizers offer a promising alternative.

A nano-fertilizer is a product that distributes nutrients to plants on the nanoscale scale. Nanofertilizer technology is a relatively new development. Substituting nano-fertilizers for conventional fertilizer application is a method for the progressive and controlled release of nutrients into the soil. Nano-fertilizers provide controlled release of agrochemicals via site-specific delivery, decreased toxicity, and increased nutrient uptake of given fertilizers. They possess special characteristics that improve the performance of plants in terms of ultrahigh absorption, increased production, increased photosynthesis, and a large increase in leaf surface area. In addition, the controlled release of nutrients helps prevent eutrophication and water resource contamination.

Nutrients can be encapsulated by nanomaterials, covered with a thin protective coating, or given as emulsions or nanoparticles in nano-fertilizers. There are numerous examples of nano-fertilizers' applicability in terms of output. Thus, treatment of maize with TiO2 nanoparticles had a significant influence on growth, whereas treatment with TiO2 in bulk had no effect. Titanium nanoparticles enhanced light absorption and transfer of photoenergy. In a separate experiment, a mixture of SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles improved the activity of nitrate reductase in soybeans and enhanced the plant's absorption capacity, resulting in a more efficient use of water and fertilizer. It has been demonstrated that a nano-organic iron-chelated fertilizer is environmentally sustainable. The beneficial effect of the absorption and penetration of ZnO2 nanoparticles into the leaves of tomato plants supports its possible usage as a nanofertilizer in the future. Nanofertilizers with gradual, targeted, and efficient release have the ability to boost nutrient uptake efficiency. Engineered nanoparticles are useful for reducing the persistent problem of moisture retention in arid soils and boosting crop output by increasing nutrient availability in the rhizosphere. Coating and binding of nanoparticles assist in regulating the release of nutrients from fertilizer capsules. A nano-composite composed of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, mannose, and amino acids improved the uptake and utilization of nutrients by grain crops upon application. Layered Zn–Al double-hydroxide nanocomposites have been utilized for the regulated release of chemical molecules that function as plant growth regulators. As an alternative technique to increase the efficiency of nitrogen use in agricultural production systems, nanoporous zeolite derived from nitrogen fertilizer can be employed. As a super-fertilizer, carbon nanotubes were discovered to alter the germination and growth rates of tomato seeds. Analytical techniques revealed that the nanotubes pierced the thick seed coat and facilitated the intake of water into the seeds.

Several significant indices support the claim that nanotechnology-based fertilizers have the potential to outperform conventional fertilizers.??