Nano Fertilizer: A Boon to Environment-friendly Agriculture

Abstract

For modern agriculture Food Production Systems (FPS) to feed the expanding population, improving Nutrient Usage Efficiency (NUE) with little environmental risk has become essential. A novel approach to the problem of poor or falling Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) with a little environmental impact has emerged: nanotechnology with nanoscale inputs for the development of Nano Agri-Inputs (NAIPs). The study of nanotechnology holds great promise for providing modern intensive agriculture with long-lasting solutions to its pressing problems. Nanotechnology uses small-sized materials called nano particles (1–100 nm), which offer special properties and advantages. Large surface area to volume ratio provides chance for better and more efficient interaction of nano particles to target areas in addition to many other advantages. In addition to providing crop production systems with sustainability, nano-fertilizers have the potential to meet plant nutritional needs without reducing crop yield. These nano-fertilizers take advantage of the dynamics of surface area, size, shape, and bio-assimilation. Their effectiveness was assessed based on studies conducted in several places with multiple crops over various crop seasons, both by research institutes and on the fields of progressive farmers spread out over 11,000 locations and 94 different crops in India. Separate tests for bio-efficacy, biosafety, toxicity, and environmental compatibility have been conducted on nano-nitrogen, nano-zinc, and nano-copper.