Nanofertilizers: A Way Forward for Green Economy

Abstract

Nanotechnology plays a significant role in promoting agriculture and agricultural products. Agriculture and food industry aims for the sustainability and the protection of agricultural products, including crops for human and livestock. It helps in the manufacturing of innovative agrochemicals and novel delivery mechanisms to enhance crop production and decrease the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It acts as an important tool in agriculture to improve crop growth, yield, and quality parameters with increased nutrient use efficiency, reduced wastage of fertilizers and cost of cultivation. These nanostructures have shown slow degradation and controlled release of active ingredient for long time. Because of the limitation in arable lands and water resources, the development of agriculture sector is only possible by increasing resources use efficiency with minimum damage to production bed through effective use of modern technologies. These nano-agro-formulations increase nutrient use efficiency, reduce soil toxicity, minimize the potential negative effects associated with over dosage, and reduce the frequency of the application. Hence, nanotechnology has high potential for achieving sustainable agriculture, especially in developing countries. Here we summarize the scope and economic aspects of nano-formulations.