Nano-biofertilizers: Synthesis, advantages, and applications

The excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers, which is considered one of the most expensive agricultural practices to stimulate crops productivity, reflects a variety of negative impacts including environmental pollution. On the other hand, nanotechnology presents the solution through nano-fertilizers which are deemed an outstanding promising alternative to chemical fertilizers since they are eco-friendly, enhance seed germination and pesticide residues degradation, improve soil quality, and increase nutrient use efficiency, which leads to higher crop productivity. In this sense, nano-fertilizers could be used in combination with bioorganic fertilizers (nano-biofertilizers), thus presenting advantages over nano-fertilizers by enhancing the plants’ tolerance against abiotic stress. Hence, nano-fertilizers are considered today as a window for new approaches toward the future of sustainable agriculture. However, some nanomaterials will not be safe for this application. The risks of nano-fertilizers should be assessed prior to use for a safe application of these nanomaterials in agriculture.