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Al-Juthery, et al.

                typically  leads to nutrient  leaching,  soil degradation,   of nano-biofertilizers has emerged. These involve the
                and water pollution. On the contrary, nano-biofertilizers   combination of microbial inoculants with nanoparticles
                release nutrients gradually and more efficiently deliver   to improve nutrient uptake, stimulate microbial activity,
                the  specific  nutrients  that  plants  need.  This  approach   and maintain healthy, living soils. 7
                allows for reduced fertilizer application,  thereby
                significantly decreasing potential environmental harm.   2.1. Defining nano-biofertilizers
                Garg  et al.  support  the  view  that  nano-biofertilizers   Nano-biofertilizers  represent a new generation  of
                          1
                enhance nutrient availability, resulting in improved   fertilizers that include:
                plant  growth  and  yield.  The  inclusion  of  beneficial   (i)  Nanoparticles: Serve as nutrient carriers, enhancing
                microbes  in  nano-biofertilizers  likely  contributes  to   bioavailability  and  enabling  controlled  nutrient
                soil health, as these organisms are involved in nutrient   release.
                solubilization,  nitrogen  fixation,  and  suppression  of   (ii)  Biofertilizers:  These are microbial  substances
                soil-borne  pathogens. According  to  Sambangi  et  al.,    containing  beneficial  microorganisms  such  as
                                                                2
                the application of nano-biofertilizers  containing  plant   Rhizobium,   Azotobacter,   Mycorrhizae,  and
                growth-promoting  rhizobacteria  improves  microbial    phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, which play crucial
                activity and soil fertility.                            roles  in  biological  nitrogen  fixation,  phosphorus
                  Another  main  benefit  of  the  nano-biofertilizer  is   solubilization, and plant growth promotion. 8
                environmental protection. They help reduce greenhouse
                gas emissions and water pollution caused by nutrient   2.2. Mechanisms of action
                runoff, as they lower the  dependency  on chemical   Nano-biofertilizers  function  through   multiple
                fertilizers.  Nanophosphorus fertilizers,  for instance,   mechanisms, including nutrient delivery, soil retention,
                enhance plant growth with minimal  environmental    and plant uptake, which collectively make them superior
                harm, as the applied doses are not excessive, an effect   to conventional fertilizers. 9
                demonstrated by Miranda-Villagómez et al.  Separately,   (i)  Controlled  nutrient  release:  Nanoparticles,
                                                      3
                Madlala  and Khanyile  indicated  that the physical     particularly  in nanofertilizers,  enable  a slow and
                                     4
                properties  of nanoparticles,  such as size, shape, and   controlled  release of nutrients, thereby reducing
                crystallinity,  significantly  influence  the  efficiency  of   leaching  losses and enhancing  nutrient-use
                nutrient utilization by plants. The study also confirmed   efficiency.  A critical  aspect  is the  improvement
                                                                                 10
                that agglomeration  and nanoscale  loss could reduce    of nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency, as both
                the  effectiveness of nanofertilizers,  highlighting  the   nutrients are commonly lost through volatilization
                importance  of standardizing  preparation  and analysis   and runoff. 11
                methods to ensure reproducibility.                  (ii)  Enhanced microbial activity: Nano-biofertilizers can
                  In summary, nano-biofertilizers  represent  a         improve the viability and effectiveness of beneficial
                forward-looking  approach  to  sustainable  agriculture.   soil  microorganisms.  For  example,  nano-silica
                They  enhance  nutrient  efficiency  uptake,  support  soil   and  nano-chitosan  support microbial  safety  and
                microbial  health, and are environmentally  friendly,   promote the growth of probiotic bacteria.  Enzyme
                                                                                                            12
                positioning them as a vital component of future farming   activity  in  soil, which contributes  to  enhanced
                practices.                                              nutrient bioavailability, is also improved by nano-
                                                                        zinc biofertilizers. 13
                2. The concept of nano-biofertilizers: A            (iii)  Improved  plant  nutrient  uptake:  Nanoparticles
                scientific perspective                                  promote better root penetration  and improved
                                                                        mobility  of nutrients  in the  soil, leading  to more
                The ever-increasing demand for sustainable agriculture   efficient  uptake  of  essential  elements  by  plants.
                                                                                                                    14
                worldwide has initiated a new trend: Nano-biofertilizers,   Studies have shown that nano-biofertilizers increase
                which combine  nanotechnology  with biofertilization    root biomass and chlorophyll content, two effects
                to improve  soil fertility, enhance  crop productivity,   directly linked to enhanced crop yield. 15
                optimize  nutrient use, and minimize  environmental
                harm. Conventional  fertilizers have been widely    2.3. Types of nano-biofertilizers
                used for decades,  but their  overuse has led  to soil   Table 1 presents the development of nano-biofertilizers
                degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.    targeting  different  nutrient  deficiencies  and  soil
                                                               5,6
                In  the  context  of  nutrient  management,  the  concept   conditions.



                Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025)                        16                           doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025160123
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