Engineering Biodegradable Inorganic Materials as Next-Generation Biostimulants

Biodegradable inorganic biostimulants have been developed, resulting in a transition toward sustainable agriculture to secure long-term food security and environmental health. Although traditional NPK fertilizers have been used to enhance yields in the past, their continued application has led to immense soil erosion, contamination of groundwater, and reduced productivity. This chapter examines the merging of nanotechnology and biotechnology to develop smart biostimulants that use inorganic substances such as silicates, carbonates, phosphates, and metal nanoparticles. These materials are geared toward soil ecosystem compatibility to achieve international sustainability objectives. These biostimulants are used to enhance nutrient uptake using microbial synthesis and green formulation approaches. They also control rhizospheric microbes and stimulate plant antioxidant defense mechanisms against abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. Nanoencapsulation and controlled release systems are technological advances that are necessary for better delivery and less environmental runoff. These systems can release active chemicals at a designated time or according to environmental conditions. Irrespective of technical obstacles in standardization and regulatory uncertainties, the shift to intelligent and data-driven biohybrid systems provides a disruptive avenue for precise agriculture. This would make these formulations eco-friendly, as biodegradable polymers would be used as nanovehicles. Future trends show the development of smart sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that ensure stable fields and reduce waste to a minimum when using biostimulants. This transition from using traditional organics to new inorganic technologies is a major milestone toward creating a circular bioeconomy. Modern agriculture can reduce nutrient deficiency by addressing biodegradability and accurate delivery, which safeguards soil biodiversity.