Page 21 - AJWEP-v22i3

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 3 (2025), pp. 15-31.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025160123

REVIEW ARTICLE

Nano-biofertilizers: A promising technology
for sustainable soil fertility, soil health, and

environmental protection

Hayyawi W. A. Al-Juthery , Rand A. H. G. Al-Taee , Ali S. Alhasan ,
1
1
2
Diaa F. Hassan * , Nisreen A. A. Al-Jassani , and Raid Shaalan Jarallah 1
3
4
1 Department of Soil and Water Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al Diwaniyah,
Qadisiyyah, Iraq
2 Department of Soil and Water Resources, College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
3 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Qasim Green University, Al-Qasim, Babylon, Iraq
4 Department of Soil and Water Resources, College of Education for Girls, University of Kufa, Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
*Corresponding author: Diaa F. Hassan (diaafliah@wrec.uoqasim.edu.iq)

Received: April 19, 2025; 1st revised: May 13, 2025; 2nd revised: May 26, 2025; Accepted: May 28, 2025;
Published online: June 24, 2025

Abstract: The rapidly increasing global demand for food security urgently calls for agricultural technologies that
can boost productivity without contributing to environmental degradation. A group of fertilizers that combines
nanotechnology with beneficial microorganisms – known as nano-biofertilizers – has shown tremendous potential
to enhance plant growth, increase yields, and improve soil health. Controlled nutrient release, enhanced microbial
activities, and improved nutrient-use efficiency are key benefits of these new fertilizers, collectively leading to
higher crop productivity with reduced environmental impact. These advantages contribute to sustainable agriculture
by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, surface soil degradation, nutrient leaching, and greenhouse gas
emissions. Recent research findings have also highlighted their role in increasing plant resilience to abiotic stress
factors, enhancing soil microbial diversity, and supporting ecological balance. This paper presents a comprehensive
analysis of the multifaceted roles of nano-biofertilizers in modern agriculture, focusing on their contributions
to plant physiology, soil health, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural productivity. Through
empirical integration, we argue that nano-biofertilizers could be a transformative tool in advancing sustainable
farming and achieving global environmental conservation goals.

Keywords: Fertilizer innovation; Microbial bioinoculant; Plant growth and yield; Soil health and sustainability;
Plant-microbe interaction; Nutrient efficiency; Microbial activity

1. Introduction advanced delivery mechanisms enabled by nanomaterials.
As a result, they can increase nutrient efficiency, reduce
As a recent development, the integration of nanotechnology the environmental impact associated with nutrient losses,
with biofertilizers is being practiced to promote soil health and address potential environmental risks.
and environmental sustainability. Nanobiofertilizers Chemical fertilizers have marked a breakthrough
combine the advantages of biological fertilizers with in traditional farming practices; however, their use

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 15 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025160123