Crop Production Research Articles

Changes in phosphorus due to pyrolysis and in the soil-plant system amended with sewage sludge biochar compared to conventional P fertilizers: A global meta-analysis.

Phosphorus (P) plays an essential role for plant growth, but conventional P sources used in agriculture are finite and non-renewable. As a result, there is a growing need to explore alternative P sources such as sewage sludge (SS)-a P-rich solid waste and valuable renewable resource that is often mismanaged globally. Pyrolysis is a promising technique for managing SS. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the pyrolysis effect on P concentration and fractions in SS using 381 paired observations from 77 peer-reviewed articles. Moreover, we assessed the impacts of SS biochar amendments on soil P pools and crop productivity, as well as the experimental factors influencing its efficacy. Our results indicate that pyrolysis significantly affects P solubility in SS biochar (SSB), reducing water-extractable P and slowing its release, while increasing P availability in NaOH and HCl extracts. Pyrolysis also leads to significant increase in apatite P (AP) by 188%, inorganic P (IP) by 107%, total P (TP) by 69%, non-apatite P (NAIP) by 33.9%, while reducing organic P (OP) by 65.2% compared to the original SS. Higher pyrolysis temperatures enhance the conversion of NAIP to AP. Biochar application increased soil available P content by an average of 324%, with the most significant effects at higher application rates (>20tha-1) and in medium to fine-textured soils. Crop productivity improved by 50.5% with biochar application compared to non-fertilized controls, especially for maize and wheat. Overall, SSB application results in crop productivity similar to fertilized controls. Thus, SSB shows promise as a slow-release P fertilizer, offering long-term benefits for both crop productivity and soil health.

From intercropping to monocropping: the effects of Pseudomonas strain to facilitate nutrient efficiency in peanut and soil

As an oilseed crop, the yield and quality of peanuts are severely constrained by nutrient deficiencies, particularly in calcareous soils in northern China. Maize-peanut intercropping is an effective strategy to enhance mineral nutrient efficiency in peanuts via plant-microbe interaction, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we conducted experiments using a Pseudomonas strain (Pse.IP6) with diverse beneficial characteristics, which was isolated from the rhizosphere of intercropped peanuts. Additionally, Pse.IP6 exhibits high phylogenetic similarity with the Amplicon Sequence Variants 48 (ASV48) which belongs to Pseudomonas and is positively correlated with Fe in plants and soil in intercropping. To confirm the plant growth-promoting potential of Pse.IP6 and its role in intercropping advantage, we constructed pot experiments. Results revealed that Pse.IP6 promoted shoot growth and root development, as well significantly enhanced SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of peanut leaves. Moreover, the application of Pse.IP6 resulted in a notable accumulation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in shoot and active iron (Fe) in leaves, accompanied by an increased K-N ratio. The primary reason for the nutrient promotion is the enhancement of the bioavailability of nitrate, ammonium, P, K, and Fe in the rhizosphere. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Pse.IP6, enriched in intercropping peanut, is a plant growth-promoting bacteria, represented by transferring the intercropping advantage on nutrients activation to monocropping peanuts. Our results offer insights into plant-rhizobacteria interaction mechanisms and therefore provide a rhizobacteria-based pathway to improve nutrient efficiency and productivity of crops.

Comprehensive assessment of straw returning with organic fertilizer on paddy ecosystems: A study based on greenhouse gas emissions, C/N sequestration, and risk health.

High greenhouse gas emissions and soil deterioration are caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers. To improve soil quality and crop productivity, it is necessary to utilize fewer chemical fertilizers to achieve sustainable agriculture. Organic substitution is a scientific fertilization strategy that will benefit future agricultural productivity development, little is known about how it affects the heavy metal content and trace gas emissions in rice grains. A field experiment using straw return to the field (SRF), organic fertilizer application (OFA), and their combination (SRF/OFA) fertilization strategies. The results demonstrated that SRF, OFA, and SRF/OFA increased the yield by 19.40%, 22.39%, and 28.36% than the natural growth control group (NG). The OFA has the highest STN stock and SRF/OFA has the highest STN sequestration rate, while SRF achieved the highest SOC stock and sequestration rate. The OFA reduced CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions by 17.73%, 71.87%, and 86.06%, resulting in a minimum global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity yield among these strategies. Cumulative seasonal CO2 and CH4 emissions were negatively correlated with soil paddy soil C/N and C/P (P<0.05). Moreover, Cu, Cd, and Pb contents in grain were reduced by 66.18%-70.31%, 35.45%-40.91%, and 76.62%-77.92%, respectively. The health risk evaluation revealed that all metals had a target hazard quotient of <1, except for NG. The hazard index (0.42-0.53), which measures the additive effects of contaminants, exceeded the threshold. The implementation of the organic alternative strategy can reduce the trend of increasing surface pollution, slow down the excessive utilization intensity of agricultural resources, and encourage the development of a greener, more sustainable agricultural way.

Climate Extreme Indices and Its Implication on Crop Production: The Case of Mana district, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Climate Extreme Indices and Its Implication on Crop Production: The Case of Mana district, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Fresh Pineapple Agronomy in the Republic of Benin: Recent Trends in Calcium Carbide Use and Producer Perceptions.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill) is among the main fruits produced in West Africa. This is also the case for the Republic of Benin, where pineapple fruit is regarded as an important crop for numerous producers in the Southern part of the country. However, crop production is constrained by various issues, the major one being poor yield caused by current agronomic practices. This has become a bottleneck that affects high-quality fruit production. The objective of this research was to (i) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current fresh pineapple production system with a focus on trends over a decade and (ii) explore the compounds used to artificially induce flowering of pineapple plants, along with the perception of fresh pineapple producers on the use of calcium carbide (CaC2) on their health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 308 producers. Our results indicate that agronomic practices were diverse, with the involvement of more women in pineapple production over the last decade. A decrease in the involvement of young people was also observed. Cv. Sugarloaf remains the main cultivar grown, with a slight increase in cv. Smooth Cayenne. Increasing numbers of pineapple producers applied chemical fertilizers, with an increase in the use of potassium sulphate (K2SO4). Artificial flowering induction practices such as adding (i) petroleum/motor oil, (ii) cooking salt, (iii) liquid fertilizer ("Super Gro"), or (iv) urea to calcium carbide were reported, as well as health issues related to the use of calcium carbide. The research highlights the need for further studies on the use of alternatives to calcium carbide for artificial flowering induction in pineapple production in Benin.

Evaluation of wheat drought resistance using hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging.

Photosynthesis drives crop growth and production, and strongly affects grain yields; therefore, it is an ideal trait for wheat drought resistance breeding. However, studies of the negative effects of drought stress on wheat photosynthesis rates have lacked accurate evaluation methods, as well as high-throughput techniques. We investigated photosynthetic capacity under drought stress in wheat varieties with varying degrees of drought stress resistance using hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) imaging data. We analyzed various morpho-physiological traits involved in wheat drought tolerance, including tiller number, leaf relative water content, and malondialdehyde content, to determine the relationships between drought resistance and hyperspectral and ChlF data. The results showed that the spectral first derivative ratio (FDR) between drought stress and control conditions in the 680-760nm region was closely related to photosynthetic capacity and drought tolerance and that hyperspectral imaging can be used to monitor ChlF parameters, with bands sensitive to ChlF identified in two spectral regions (539-764nm and 832-989nm). The spectral first derivative at 989nm had the strongest linear relationship with the minimal fluorescence (R2=0.49). An uninformative variable elimination algorithm indicated that FDRs in the green (504-609nm), red (724-751nm), and near-infrared (944-946nm) light regions had great potential as indices of drought resistance. A support vector machine model based on the FDRs of these characteristic bands identified wheat drought resistance with 97.33% accuracy. These findings provide insight into the application of high-throughput technologies in studying drought resistance and photosynthesis in wheat.

The paradoxical effects of beneficial bacteria on Solanum lycopersicum under Cd stress.

This study investigated the complex interactions between a novel consortium and tomato seedlings under cadmium (Cd) stress. The consortium consists of two bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. HS4 and Paenarthrobacter sp. AS8, both with proven plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties, isolated from Cd hyperaccumulators. Our research highlights the paradoxical effects of these bacteria, revealing their dual role in reducing Cd uptake while simultaneously inducing oxidative stress in plants. Hydroponic experiments showed that the consortium reduced Cd accumulation in tomato shoots by 52% compared to uninoculated controls. However, this reduction was accompanied by decreased plant biomass and increased oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels up to 80% and 160% higher, respectively, in inoculated plants. Root H₂O₂ production increased by 38% under 50μM Cd without a corresponding rise in catalase (CAT) activity. Despite Cd exposure, the consortium promoted chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis, restoring pigment levels to those of unstressed controls. Gene expression analysis revealed a complex impact on stress responses, with inoculation suppressing Sl1 gene expression in roots and upregulating the oxidative stress-related GR-1 gene in shoots. These findings highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between beneficial bacteria and plant fitness under heavy metal stress, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture. The study raises new questions regarding the broader physiological and ecological impacts of applying hyperaccumulator-associated bacteria in crop management, emphasizing the necessity for deeper mechanistic insights into these interactions to fully harness their potential in improving crop resilience and productivity.

A harmonized dataset relating alternative farmer management practices to crop yield, soil organic carbon stock, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching generated using IPCC methodologies and meta-analyses.

Farming practices such as soil tillage, organic/mineral fertilization, irrigation, crop selection and residues management influence multiple ecosystem services provided by agricultural systems. These practices exhibit complex, non-linear interrelationships that affect crop productivity, water quality, and non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, possibly offsetting their benefits regarding soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Current methodologies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for assessing the impacts of alternative farming practices on GHG emissions rely on global or country-specific coefficients. However, these methods often do not explicitly account for the combined effects of management practices on carbon and nitrogen cycles or productivity, as this is not required for national GHG inventories. Here we present a new dataset featuring 1.8 Mln of agronomic case scenarios, i.e., unique combinations of farming practices and pedoclimatic conditions, which have been associated with values of SOC changes, nitrous oxide emissions, nitrate-nitrogen leaching, and crop yield. To synthesize trade-offs and synergies between farming practices, each case scenario has been ranked with a ∑ommit index (∑i) value, a fuzzy-based measure ranging from 0 (bad) to 1 (good). The four trade-off components have been estimated by combining available information from i) the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, ii) the guidelines for Green Water Footprint Accounting, iii) the Italian National Institute of Statistics, iv) and other international meta-analytic studies. The dataset presents four ∑i series, corresponding to alternative perceptions of sustainability from three potential stakeholder categories (young farmers' cooperative, agrochemical company, public agricultural policy agency) plus one equally weighted option. By providing a harmonized data source and an innovative metric, this dataset allows users to explore trade-offs associated with alternative management practices across four key agricultural components and assess their impact on perceived agroecosystem sustainability.

Ethylene Response Transcription Factor 5 (ERF5) Enhances Defense Against Tobacco Curly Shoot Virus and Associated Betasatellite (TbCSV/TbCSB) in Nicotiana benthamiana

Begomovirus/betasatellite disease complex significantly threatens global crop production. Identifying potential plant antiviral genes is crucial for disease control. Nicotiana benthamiana is susceptible to viruses and contains 266 ethylene response transcription factors (ERFs). This study identified 29 NbERFs that were differentially upregulated in tobacco curly shoot virus and its associated betasatellite (TbCSV/TbCSB) infection, with ERF5 being the most common. Nine NbERF5s cluster phylogenetically and Niben101Scf00163g22002 (NbERF5) responds significantly to exogenous ACC treatment. Further analysis confirms the nuclear localization and transcriptional activation activity of NbERF5. Protein interaction assays demonstrate that NbERF5 has no self-interaction and does not interact with the βC1 protein of TbCSB. Silencing NbERF5 enhances TbCSV/TbCSB infection, and overexpression of NbERF5 inhibits TbCSV/TbCSB infection. Importantly, NbERF5 positively regulates the expression of the pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, NbPR1a and NbNPR1. Our findings suggest that NbERF5 enhances TbCSV/TbCSB resistance by activating the PR genes, indicating that NbERF5 is a potential antiviral gene.

Biofeedback control of photosynthetic lighting using real-time monitoring of leaf chlorophyll fluorescence.

Optimizing photosynthetic lighting is essential for maximizing crop production and minimizing electricity costs in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Traditional lighting methods often neglect the impact of environmental factors, crop type, and light acclimation on photosynthetic efficiency. To address this, a chlorophyll fluorescence-based biofeedback system was developed to adjust light-emitting diode (LED) intensity based on real-time plant responses, rather than using a fixed photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). This study used the biofeedback system to maintain a range of target quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and electron transport rate (ETR) values and to examine if the adjustment logic (ΦPSII or ETR-based) and crop type influence LED light intensity. The system was tested in a growth chamber with lettuce (Lactuca sativa) 'Green Towers' and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) 'Diva' to maintain six ETR levels (30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130 μmol·m-2·s-1) and five ΦPSII levels (0.65, 0.675, 0.7, 0.725, 0.75) during a 16-hour photoperiod. The ETR-based biofeedback quickly stabilized the target ETR within 30-45 minutes, whereas the ΦPSII-based system needed more time. The system adjusted light intensities according to target values, acclimation status, and crop-specific responses. For example, to maintain a target ETR of 130 μmol·m-2·s-1, the gradual increase in ΦPSII over time due to light acclimation allowed the required PPFD to decrease by 35 μmol·m-2·s-1. Lettuce showed higher photosynthetic efficiency and lower heat dissipation than cucumber, leading to higher PPFD adjustments for lettuce. This biofeedback system effectively controls LED light, optimizing photosynthetic efficiency and potentially reducing lighting costs.

Synthetic peptides bioactive against phytopathogens have lower impact on some beneficial bacteria: An assessment of peptides biosafety in agriculture.

The emergence of bacterial resistance and the increasing restrictions on the use of agrochemicals are boosting the search for novel, sustainable antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) arise as a new generation of antibiotics due to their effectiveness at low doses and biocompatibility. We compared the antimicrobial activity of four promising AMPs (CA-M, BP100, RW-BP100, and 3.1) against a collection of notorious phytopathogens, and quantified their impact on plant beneficial bacteria. Plant growth promoters (PGP) and biological control agents (BCA) were also included to study the feasibility of integrating AMPs with bio-based strategies to mitigate diseases impacts and promote crop production. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the AMPs' effects on the membrane integrity of both gram-negative and gram-positive strains were time- and concentration-dependent. Bacterial strains were separated into three groups of susceptibility to the AMPs. Group 1 was represented by the most sensitive, gram-negative phytopathogenic belonging to Xanthomonadales and Pseudomonadales and the gram-positive C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Group 2 encompassed bacteria showing intermediate susceptibility, namely P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, P. cerasi, both phytopathogens, as well as the plant growth promoters P. fluorescens and P. putida. Finaly, Group 3 was represented by the bacteria with the lowest susceptibility to AMPs. It included beneficial bacteria (B. zhangzhouensis, B. subtilis, B. safensis, P. azotoformans), a phytopathogen (R. solanacearum), and a strain reported as able to act as both (P. aeruginosa). This work demonstrates that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) needed to act against the beneficial Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains were higher than those needed to produce bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects on the phytopathogens tested, hence supporting that these AMPs might be environmentally safe antibiotics with low likeliness of disrupting the beneficial microbial communities. The possibility of mixing these AMPs with BCA/PGP, in a combined biocontrol strategy, is also discussed.

Plant-microbiome interactions for enhanced crop production under cadmium stress: A review

Plant-microbiome interactions for enhanced crop production under cadmium stress: A review

Relevance of the irrigation and soil management system to optimize maize crop production under semiarid Mediterranean conditions

Relevance of the irrigation and soil management system to optimize maize crop production under semiarid Mediterranean conditions

AquaCrop model to optimize water supply for a sustainable processing tomato cultivation in the Mediterranean area: A multi-objective approach

CONTEXTEfficient irrigation management must consider multiple aspects of cropping systems, such as productivity, water use efficiency, and economic viability. Crop simulation models like AquaCrop are essential tools for analyzing crop responses under different irrigation scenarios. Organizing the model's outputs into standardized parameters allows for a multi-objective evaluation, which can be consolidated into a single index for optimizing irrigation strategies. OBJECTIVEThis study aims to formalize the response of processing tomato cropping systems in Southern Italy to various irrigation regimes and develop a framework to identify optimal irrigation volumes for production, water use efficiency, and economic returns. METHODSAquaCrop was used to assess the effects of different seasonal water supplies on dry yield, water use efficiency, and irrigation water use efficiency. Sustainability was evaluated via the blue water footprint and drainage, while economic sustainability was measured through net income and irrigation economic efficiency. A multi-objective evaluation framework was built, developed to consolidate performance indices into a single multi-aggregated index (Imobj). The AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using field data, with high accuracy in simulating canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield (NRMSE < 30 %, r > 0.90, and d > 0.97). Polynomial regression was used to model the relationships between irrigation volumes and cropping system variables. Each variable was assigned a truth value (TWi), derived from regression coefficients, statistical significance, and model fit. These values were normalized using a sigmoid function and consolidated into the Imobj index, providing an overall measure of irrigation performance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAquaCrop accurately simulated canopy cover, biomass, and dry yield. Multi-objective analysis showed yield and profitability were most sensitive to irrigation changes, followed by drainage, blue water footprint, and water use efficiency. The 500 mm irrigation regime yielded the highest productivity and profitability but negatively impacted water use efficiency and environmental sustainability. Irrigation volumes above 500 mm worsened all water-related variables, while volumes of 400 mm reduced profitability but improved the sustainability. The Imobj index identified that irrigation between 300 mm and 400 mm provided the best trade-off across all evaluated variables. SIGNIFICANCEThis study highlights the value of integrating crop productivity, economic viability, and sustainability into irrigation management. The proposed framework, combined with AquaCrop, offers a holistic tool for optimizing irrigation strategies in agriculture. It emphasizes the need for balanced irrigation that not only maximizes yield but also enhances resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Integrated Crop Production Management

Abstract: Integrated Crop Production and Management is an innovative and sustainable approach that combines a variety of farming practices to optimize crop yield, soil health, and environmental sustainability. The approach integrates strategies such as crop rotation, organic fertilization, pest and weed management, water conservation, and soil fertility enhancement into a comprehensive farming system. ICPM would minimize dependency on chemical inputs, promote soil structure, and enhance biodiversity while improving crop tolerance to climatic variability and pests. This paper explores the principles and methodologies behind ICPM, bringing to light how it can promote agricultural productivity and ecological balance at the same time. The paper highlights the potential of IPM, conservation tillage, and agroforestry in promoting farm resilience while reducing environmental degradation. Case studies and field experiments demonstrate the effects of ICPM on crop yield, soil health, and profitability of the farm. The adoption of modern and traditional practices in ICPM not only addresses the immediate needs of crop production but also contributes to long-term sustainability. This research will demonstrate how ICPM can be a viable solution to current challenges in agriculture, such as climate change, food security, and resource depletion, and offer farmers a pathway to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

Advancement in Precision Agriculture: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Innovative Robotics

Precision agriculture, a revolutionary approach to modern farming, leverages technology and data-driven techniques to optimize crop production and resource management. This review article delves into the advancements in precision agriculture, focusing on the integration of traditional practices with innovative robotics. The study explores the evolution of agricultural robotics, from early mechanized systems to cutting-edge autonomous robots powered by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT. A comparative analysis is conducted to evaluate the efficiency, scalability, and environmental impact of traditional systems versus contemporary robotic solutions. The paper also examines the challenges in adopting robotics in agriculture, such as cost, technological complexity, and scalability for small and medium-scale farmers. Additionally, it highlights emerging trends, including drone-based crop monitoring, autonomous weeding systems, and precision seeding technologies, which aim to address global food security challenges while ensuring sustainability. This article serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers, technologists, and policymakers aiming to bridge the gap between traditional and modern agricultural systems, paving the way for smarter and more efficient farming practices

Land use change, cropping pattern and productivity of major crops in Janjgir-Champa (C.G)

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the land use changes in Janjgir-Champa, examining their temporal and spatial patterns and identifying key drivers such as urbanization and agricultural practices. It aims to study the cropping patterns, focusing on the seasonal and spatial distribution of major crops like paddy, wheat, and pulses, while evaluating the impact of practices like crop rotation and intercropping on sustainability. The research also seeks to assess the productivity trends of these crops in relation to changing land use and farming techniques, identifying factors such as soil quality and irrigation. Jangir-Champa, a prominent agricultural district in Chhattisgarh, India, is characterized by its rich agro-climatic diversity and reliance on traditional cropping systems. This study delves into the cropping patterns prevalent in the region, emphasizing the potential and adoption of organic farming practices. The analysis identifies major crops such as paddy, wheat, and pulses, exploring their spatial and seasonal distribution alongside intercropping and crop rotation methods. Organic farming, as an eco-friendly alternative, is gaining momentum in the region due to its promise of sustainability, improved soil health, and reduced chemical dependency. This research highlights the socio-economic benefits and challenges of transitioning to organic farming, including farmer awareness, certification hurdles, and market dynamics. By integrating field surveys, soil analyses, and farmer interviews, the study provides insights into optimizing cropping patterns while promoting organic farming. The findings aim to guide policymakers and stakeholders in fostering an agricultural paradigm that balances productivity, environmental health, and farmer livelihoods in Jangir-Champa.

Response of Mango Trees to Organic and Biofertilizers to Enhance Crop Production and Quality in Egypt as A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture. Review Article

Response of Mango Trees to Organic and Biofertilizers to Enhance Crop Production and Quality in Egypt as A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture. Review Article

Development of a handheld GPU-assisted DSC-TransNet model for the real-time classification of plant leaf disease using deep learning approach

In agriculture, promptly and accurately identifying leaf diseases is crucial for sustainable crop production. To address this requirement, this research introduces a hybrid deep learning model that combines the visual geometric group version 19 (VGG19) architecture features with the transformer encoder blocks. This fusion enables the accurate and précised real-time classification of leaf diseases affecting grape, bell pepper, and tomato plants. Incorporating transformer encoder blocks offers enhanced capability in capturing intricate spatial dependencies within leaf images, promising agricultural sustainability and food security. By providing farmers and farming stakeholders with a reliable tool for rapid disease detection, our model facilitates timely intervention and management practices, ultimately leading to improved crop yields and mitigated economic losses. Through extensive comparative analyses on various datasets and filed tests, the proposed depth wise separable convolutional-TransNet (DSC-TransNet) architecture has demonstrated higher performance in terms of accuracy (99.97%), precision (99.94%), recall (99.94), sensitivity (99.94%), F1-score (99.94%), AUC (0.98) for Grpae leaves across different datasets including bell pepper and tomato. Furthermore, including DSC layers enhances the computational efficiency of the model while maintaining expressive power, making it well-suited for real-time agricultural applications. The developed DSC-TransNet model is deployed in NVIDIA Jetson Nano single board computer. This research contributes to advancing the field of automated plant disease classification, addressing critical challenges in modern agriculture and promoting more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Comprehensive analysis of nano-fertilizers in Indian agriculture - A review

This is a comprehensive review of studies of nano-fertilizers for their efficacy in stimulating plant growth, facilitating higher nutrient uptake and thus enhancing overall crop yield and productivity. The intricate insights into the mechanisms through which nano-fertilizers ensure sustained nutrient release, optimize nutrient absorption and augment nutrient utilization efficiency, have been reviewed. Several scientific studies indicate the potential of nanotechnology to enhance crop performance in terms of better crop growth and higher productivity. Regarding the economic implications of adopting nano-fertilizers, several findings indicate that nano-fertilizers could offer cost advantages over conventional fertilizers, potentially alleviating the government's subsidy burden and reducing import expenses on huge quantities of major commercial fertilizers. This comprehensive review also explores the challenges faced by Indian agriculture in crop production and the potential of nanotechnology to revolutionize productivity on a sustainable basis. The study emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced and sustained crop production and highlights the significance of nano-fertilizer application as an innovative and environmentally friendly solution. In conclusion, this comprehensive overview of the status of stagnant crop production in India identifies the challenges in augmenting productivity and proposes nanotechnology-based fertilizers and their utility in major agricultural crops cultivation as a promising solution. The findings underscore the need for further research and the widespread adoption of nanotechnology-based fertilizers in Indian agriculture to ensure sustainable and enhanced production and productivity.