Nanomaterials for efficient plant nutrition

Abstract

Population of the country is increasing at an alarming rate and agricultural land is shrinking on the other hand. To feed this burgeoning population crop productivity and production need to be enhanced at increasing rate. Since green revolution, fertilizers have played a major role to increase crop production. But in recent years the crop productivity has reached to the plateau whereas rate of fertilizer application is still increasing. This is owing to low fertilizer use efficiency, low productivity, higher application doses of fertilizers, environmental pollution and residual toxicity problem in produced food. To cater these problems a new technology namely; nanotechnology needs to be introduced in agriculture for more efficient plant nutrition. Nanomaterial is needed in minute quantity to enhance crop growth and yield significantly. Thereby, nanomaterials hold promise in increasing fertilizer use efficiency along with increase in agricultural production in terms of quantity and quality. This review is presented to find out the future scopes of nanomaterials to revolutionise agricultural sector by ensuring food security for next generations.