Synthesis, Characterization, and Uses of Nanofertilizers and Nano-Agrochemicals for Sustainable Agriculture

There is widespread concern about our ability to continue producing enough food to withstand the current population pressure while also meeting the needs of a growing population in the future, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has estimated that around a 70% increase in global food production is needed by 2050. The future of humankind depends on agriculture, which is still far from being sustainable. Without the need to contaminate soils, rivers, and the environment, nanotechnology offers sustainable and creative techniques for improving food quality and safety, decreasing agricultural inputs, and enriching the absorption of nanoscale nutrients from the soil to boost productivity. Increased productivity due to better control of pests, nematodes, and microbiological diseases is one of the major goals of using nanomaterials (NMs) in agriculture. The size of a nanoparticle (NP) is a major factor in its unusual capabilities; a nanomaterial with a smaller volume would have a higher surface area and, consequently, greater activity. Nanofertilizers (NFs) can either be synthesized singly in oxidized forms or in combination with micronutrients via loading onto nanoadsorbents (e.g., zeolites and bentonite). To improve the efficiency with which nutrients are used, nanomaterials are produced using both physical (top-down) and chemical (bottom-up) methods, and the targeted nutrients are loaded as a surface modification before being coated with various materials (biopolymers, minerals) to release nutrients slowly and steadily. This chapter explores the synthesis of nanomaterials and the methodologies for characterizing their potential applications, to achieve optimal crop nutrition and to effectively control phytopathogens.