leads to their encapsulation of fertilizers (Rai et al. 2012). The coated surface of
fertilizer holds the nutrients firmly because of high surface tension. Nanoencapsulated agrochemicals increase the availability of nutrients to plants because
of their properties such as high solubility, stability, effectiveness, and targeted
activity. Studies have shown that nano composites having macronutrients (such as
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), micronutrients, and amino acids show capacity
for enhanced uptake and utilization of nutrients.
Nanofertilizers are considered as smart nutrient delivery system. Application of
nanofertilizers proves effective in improving the nutrient use efficiency and reducing
the input of harmful chemical. Increase in crop yield after application of
nanofertilizers has been established through research studies (Solanki et al. 2015;
Abobatta 2018). Additional benefits such as protection against pests and pathogens
have also been reported after application of nanofertilizers (Kim et al. 2012). Both
macronutrient and micronutrient nanofertilizers bring improvement in soil (DeRosa
et al. 2010).
Advantages such as less toxicity, low cost, improvement in soil fertility, and
enhancement in crop yield make nanofertilizers an effective alternate to harmful
chemical fertilizers (Manjunatha et al. 2016; Chhipa 2017). Use of nanofertilizers
helps in minimizing use of highly toxic chemical compounds such as fungicides and
pesticides.
10.2 Nanoparticles in Agricultural Systems
Nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanoherbicides are supplements that possess high
efficiency in boosting agricultural productivity (Joseph and Morrison 2006; Chen
and Yada 2011; Scott and Chen 2013). Benefits of nanofertilizers in agriculture have
been proved by several workers (Liu and Lal 2015; Ditta et al. 2015; Duhan et al.
2017). The yield of agricultural crops has shown tremendous enhancement after
application of nanofertilizers (Duhan et al. 2017). This happened because
nanofertilizers increase availability of nutrients to plants thus improving their growth
and production (Liu and Lal 2015). The capacity of plants for absorbing nutrients
from soil increases after application of nanofertilizers. Slow and effective release of
the nutrients by these fertilizers prevents nutrient loss. Indirectly they help in
improving crop productivity by reducing pests (Rai and Ingle 2012). Nanofertilizers
also facilitate efficient use of water by plants (Adhikari et al. 2010). Foliar application of nanofertilizers has resulted in significant increase in crop yields (Tarafdar
et al. 2012a, b). Studies have proved that under arid conditions, foliar application of
nano phosphorus fertilizer at the rate of 640 mg/ha (40 ppm concentration) gave
phosphorus equivalent to 80 kg/ha to crop plants (such as clusterbean and pearl
millet).
Application of metal oxide nanoparticles such as Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , CeO 2 , FeO, ZnO
have shown to play an important role in improving agricultural productivity
(Dimkpa et al. 2013, 2015; Zhang et al. 2016). Application of carbon nanotubes
has also shown high release, great efficiency, and targeted delivery of nutrients
(Joshi et al. 2018). Studies have shown that both carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
231
fertilizer holds the nutrients firmly because of high surface tension. Nanoencapsulated agrochemicals increase the availability of nutrients to plants because
of their properties such as high solubility, stability, effectiveness, and targeted
activity. Studies have shown that nano composites having macronutrients (such as
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), micronutrients, and amino acids show capacity
for enhanced uptake and utilization of nutrients.
Nanofertilizers are considered as smart nutrient delivery system. Application of
nanofertilizers proves effective in improving the nutrient use efficiency and reducing
the input of harmful chemical. Increase in crop yield after application of
nanofertilizers has been established through research studies (Solanki et al. 2015;
Abobatta 2018). Additional benefits such as protection against pests and pathogens
have also been reported after application of nanofertilizers (Kim et al. 2012). Both
macronutrient and micronutrient nanofertilizers bring improvement in soil (DeRosa
et al. 2010).
Advantages such as less toxicity, low cost, improvement in soil fertility, and
enhancement in crop yield make nanofertilizers an effective alternate to harmful
chemical fertilizers (Manjunatha et al. 2016; Chhipa 2017). Use of nanofertilizers
helps in minimizing use of highly toxic chemical compounds such as fungicides and
pesticides.
10.2 Nanoparticles in Agricultural Systems
Nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanoherbicides are supplements that possess high
efficiency in boosting agricultural productivity (Joseph and Morrison 2006; Chen
and Yada 2011; Scott and Chen 2013). Benefits of nanofertilizers in agriculture have
been proved by several workers (Liu and Lal 2015; Ditta et al. 2015; Duhan et al.
2017). The yield of agricultural crops has shown tremendous enhancement after
application of nanofertilizers (Duhan et al. 2017). This happened because
nanofertilizers increase availability of nutrients to plants thus improving their growth
and production (Liu and Lal 2015). The capacity of plants for absorbing nutrients
from soil increases after application of nanofertilizers. Slow and effective release of
the nutrients by these fertilizers prevents nutrient loss. Indirectly they help in
improving crop productivity by reducing pests (Rai and Ingle 2012). Nanofertilizers
also facilitate efficient use of water by plants (Adhikari et al. 2010). Foliar application of nanofertilizers has resulted in significant increase in crop yields (Tarafdar
et al. 2012a, b). Studies have proved that under arid conditions, foliar application of
nano phosphorus fertilizer at the rate of 640 mg/ha (40 ppm concentration) gave
phosphorus equivalent to 80 kg/ha to crop plants (such as clusterbean and pearl
millet).
Application of metal oxide nanoparticles such as Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , CeO 2 , FeO, ZnO
have shown to play an important role in improving agricultural productivity
(Dimkpa et al. 2013, 2015; Zhang et al. 2016). Application of carbon nanotubes
has also shown high release, great efficiency, and targeted delivery of nutrients
(Joshi et al. 2018). Studies have shown that both carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
231