Synergistic and non-synergistic impact of HAP-based nano fertilizer and PGPR for improved nutrient utilization and metabolite variation in hemp crops

Abstract

Abundant use of nitrogenous fertilizers leads to wasteful expense and environmental degradation through excessive urea availability. We synthesized urea-hydroxyapatite nano fertilizer (UHAPF). Through characterization, we revealed controlled nitrogen release due to reduced hydroxyapatite (HAP) dissolution. Combined application of Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with UHAPF demonstrated improved plant growth in a pot experiment compared to individual treatments, indicating reduced nitrogen loss under field conditions. In a vertical-column setup, gradual nitrogen release in ∼30 days was exhibited by UHAPF. We explored variation in secondary-metabolite formation in industrial cannabis and found that nanofertilizers enhanced nutrient uptake, biofertilizers improved soil health and both affected synergistic cannabinoid production. The presence of 2,4-DTBP during GC-MS prompted additional environmental and health investigations. Our research findings emphasize sustainable approaches for nutrient management, enhanced crop yields and reducing excess nitrogen losses by suggesting novel nano-fertilizer formulations.