Effects of nanofertilizers on plant growth and development, and their interrelationship with the environment

Bionanotechnology, which represents all facets of research with regard to the interactions of biology and nanoparticles, has firmly established itself as one of the principle and focused subdisciplines within nanotechnology. Fertilizer, which is a key nutrient source for food, biomass, and fiber production in agriculture, is by far the most important source of nutritional elements and molecules. At the same time, however, nutrient recovery by crops remains relatively low (e.g., about 50% for N). Since a nanoparticle is a particle with at least two dimensions below 100 nm, nanofertilizers could soon offer a technological solution to the nutrient-loss problem, thereby aiding technologically-minded farmers and subsistence farming. Nanofertilizers refer to nanoscale-dimension products that deliver nutrients to crops. These nutrients can be i) encapsulated inside nanomaterials such as nanotubes or nanoporous materials, ii) coated with a thin protective polymer film, or iii) delivered as particles or emulsions. It has been reported that nanoparticles and nanotubes in numerous crops (sunflower, common bean, and maize, among others) have enhanced germination and seedling growth, physiological activities including photosynthetic activity and nitrogen metabolism, mRNA expression and protein level, and positive changes in gene expression, indicating their potential use for increasing crop yields. Nevertheless, additional research is necessary in order to understand the effect of nanofertilizers on the genetic, physiologic, and morphologic changes in crops, as well as their effect on soil microbial communities, symbioses, physicochemical soil properties, and pollution. One may speculate that the creation and improvement of fertilizers at nanoscale dimensions could have a profound impact on energy, the economy and the environment. Speculation notwithstanding, the scientific, technical, and agricultural projects linked with nanofertilizers must include side effects in order to accurately determine progress and shape a sustainable future.