Controlled Release of Nano-biofertilizers and Nano-biopesticides for Sustainable Agriculture
摘要
The rising population causing a significant threat to meet the world food demand results in increased use of chemical fertilizers. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes challenges like soil degradation, fertility loss, minerals deficiency, pest resistance, climate change, and chemical pollution. These emerging issues impose a considerable burden on existing agricultural problems. Bio-stimulants are a good initiative to overcome agricultural issues by improving overall production, sustainability, metabolic reactions, and physio-chemical response of plants against various biotic and abiotic stresses. Seaweeds, plant extracts, hydrolyzed proteins, nitrogen-containing compounds, humic substances, and microorganisms are various bio-stimulants. Microbial bio-stimulants are helpful to lower the use of chemical fertilizers but their efficacy is more when combined with nano-stimulants. Nanotechnology is an advanced field that creates nanosized particles and is used in every field of life. In agriculture, nanoparticles improve crop production and remove agro-waste from water bodies. Nanoparticles (both organic and inorganic) are synthesized by biological, chemical, and mechanical processes. Green synthesized nanoparticles (NP’s) are considered environmentally friendly as compared to mechanical and chemical approach due to less production of toxic chemical. Nanomaterials integration with microbial bio-stimulants into agricultural practices boosts crop productivity. Integrating microbial nanotechnology into agricultural practices and biomedicine is promising, but it must overcome synthesis, standardization, and scalability challenges.