Nanotechnology’s integration into the realm of agriculture, specifically in the development of smart fertilizers, has generated significant attention due to its potential to revolutionize modern farming practices. As conventional agricultural methods face challenges such as inefficient nutrient utilization, environmental contamination, and soil degradation, the application of nanotechnology offers promising solutions. Nanotechnology facilitates enhanced nutrient absorption, reduced environmental impact, and improved soil health by enabling precise control over nutrient delivery, targeted release mechanisms, and customized formulations. With its potential to revolutionize the agricultural landscape, the incorporation of nanotechnology in smart fertilizers stands as a beacon of hope for achieving global food security and sustainable farming practices. This approach not only addresses the shortcomings of traditional fertilizers but also offers a sustainable pathway to optimize crop productivity while minimizing the adverse effects on the environment.
Need for Nanotechnology in Smart Fertilizers
Figure 1: Problems by Conventional Fertilizer
Nanotechnology in smart fertilizers is imperative to address conventional fertilizers’ limitations and modern agriculture’s challenges. Integrating nanotechnology makes it possible to control nutrient release precisely, enabling efficient nutrient delivery and minimizing wastage. This targeted approach enhances nutrient absorption by plants, thereby increasing crop yields and improving overall agricultural productivity. Additionally, smart fertilizers based on nanotechnology can mitigate environmental issues such as nutrient leaching and runoff, reducing water contamination and ecosystem degradation. The slow-release properties of nanotech-based fertilizers ensure a sustained and balanced nutrient supply to plants, promoting long-term soil fertility and health. Moreover, the customizable formulations facilitated by nanotechnology allow for tailored nutrient compositions, optimizing plant growth based on specific crop and soil requirements. Overall, using nanotechnology in smart fertilizers presents a promising pathway to sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture, ensuring food security and minimizing the ecological footprint of agricultural practices.
Types of Nano Fertilizers
Figure 2: Classification of Nano fertilizers
Different types of Nano fertilizers exhibit distinct properties and can elicit varied effects on plants. They are generally categorized based on the nutrients they deliver, their functionalities, and their uniformity. Comprehending the characteristics of nano fertilizers is crucial for determining the most suitable application method. Moreover, nano fertilizers can be administered to plants through foliar spraying, irrigation, and soil incorporation.
1. Action-Based
Action-based nano fertilizers are typically classified into four categories: controlled release, targeted delivery, plant growth stimulation, and water and nutrient loss control. Additionally, these advanced fertilizers offer several advantages, including enhanced nutrient utilization, regulated nutrient release, and precise nutrient targeting, promoted plant growth, and minimized nutrient loss.
2. Nutrient Based
The growing global population and the subsequent food demand have underscored the need for sustainable agricultural approaches. Nutrient-based nano fertilizers represent a critical innovation in addressing this challenge by improving nutrient accessibility, absorption, and utilization in plants. Nutrient-based nano fertilizers are classified into four categories: inorganic Nano fertilizers, organic Nano fertilizers, hybrid Nano fertilizers, and nutrient-loaded fertilizers. Inorganic Nano fertilizers are categorized into macronutrient and micronutrient fertilizers. Macronutrient fertilizers include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur-based systems, while micronutrients include boron, copper, iron, nickel, titanium, and zinc-based systems.
Organic Nano fertilizers are synthesized from atoms or molecules into various forms, such as capsules, polymer conjugates, vesicles, micelles, liposomes, polymersomes, dendrimers, and polymeric nanoparticles. Hybrid Nano fertilizers combine conventional and nanotechnology-based fertilizers, providing a slow and sustained release of nutrients and improved access to the nutrients. Thus, they improve fertilizer efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer production and use. Nano-porous zeolites are nutrient-loaded Nano fertilizers that can effectively provide crops with nutrients.
3. Consistency-Based
Nano fertilizers categorized by consistency encompass surface-coated and nano-carrier-based technologies, offering a promising avenue for sustainable agriculture. These formulations bring advantages like enhanced nutrient utilization, minimized nutrient loss, and reduced environmental impact. Surface-coated nano fertilizers comprise synthetic polymer-coated and biological product-coated nanoparticles (NPs). For instance, synthetic polyacrylamide can boost nitrogen utilization, while biological product coatings, such as alginate, can improve phosphorus accessibility and absorption. Nano carrier-based Nano fertilizers, utilizing carriers like mesoporous silica NPs, can enhance nutrient solubility, stability, and accessibility, increasing crop yields.
Performance of Nano Fertilizer
An exemplary Nano fertilizer can impart a comprehensive understanding of Nano fertilizer’s performance.
ICAR-CIRCOT Nano fertilizer Technology:
Farmers in India employ diverse contemporary agricultural technologies to enhance the yield and efficiency of farming for both crops and horticulture. Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in assisting farmers, boosting fertilizer effectiveness, and promoting precision farming by utilizing controlled-release fertilizers.
Smart Fertilizer Market
The global market value of smart agriculture is projected to surge from around $15 billion in 2022 to a staggering $33 billion by 2027.
ICAR-CIRCOT’s Nano-Zn Technology:
- Zinc serves as a crucial nutritional element for all living organisms. Crops cultivated in zinc-deficient soil often demonstrate reduced yield and compromised nutritional quality.
- Existing commercial zinc fertilizers are relatively ineffective, leading to significant losses for farmers
- ICAR-CIRCOT has pioneered a novel technique for producing zinc nanoparticles (Nano-Zn) suitable for application as a fertilizer
Figure 3: Field trial details of Nano fertilizer
Field Trial:
An on-site trial was carried out at the experimental farm of M/s. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd.(RCF Ld.) in Mumbai showcased the impact of Nano-Zn combined with N:P: K (15:15:15) complex fertilizer “Suphala” from RCF Ltd. on the growth characteristics of brinjal (Solanum melongena L) and nutrient utilization efficiency. The Nano-Zn supplement exhibited a synergistic effect, resulting in a 70% increase in yield and a 45% boost in biomass for brinjal.
Nanotechnology in Smart Fertilizers: Recent Activities
Nano Urea and DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizers are game changers in the agricultural sector of India:
In a developing nation, the affordability of nano fertilizers poses a significant challenge for middle-class farmers. India has taken a ground-breaking step towards making nano fertilizers more accessible to farmers and agricultural professionals. Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the country’s largest fertilizer manufacturer, is set to introduce nano DAP for Rs. 600 per 500-ml bottle to reduce foreign exchange spending and government subsidies.
This initiative seeks to provide the same benefits as a standard bag of DAP, which currently costs Rs. 1,350. IFFCO is also planning the release of nano-potash, nano-zinc, and nano-copper fertilizers. In June 2021, IFFCO launched nano urea in liquid form as an alternative to traditional urea, establishing manufacturing plants in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Unlike conventional urea, nano urea is sold at Rs. 240 per bottle without government subsidies. Moreover, the government typically offers substantial subsidies for conventional urea to ensure farmers have access to this essential soil nutrient at an affordable price.
Conclusion
The integration of nanotechnology in the development of smart fertilizers represents a pivotal advancement in modern agriculture. Nanotechnology can optimize plants’ absorption of essential elements through precise nutrient delivery. Controlled-release mechanisms ensure a gradual supply of nutrients, minimizing wastage and enhancing efficiency. Additionally, customized formulations enable tailored solutions to specific agricultural challenges, promising a more sustainable and effective approach to crop management. By enhancing nutrient absorption, reducing environmental impact, and promoting soil health, nanotech-based smart fertilizers offer a sustainable approach to optimizing crop productivity while minimizing the ecological footprint of farming practices. Embracing this innovation in fertilizer technology promises to meet the increasing global demand for food and foster a more efficient and environmentally conscious agricultural landscape. Also, as research and development in this field continue, the widespread implementation of nanotechnology in smart fertilizers is a promising solution toward a more sustainable and resilient future for global agriculture.