Advances in Agricultural Technology: A Review of Slow-Release Nanofertilizers and Innovative Carriers

ABSTRACT

Nanofertilizers represent a promising and innovative solution in modern agriculture, offering sustainability and efficiency to improve crop performance and optimize natural resource utilization. These fertilizers are distinguished by their nanometer-sized particles, facilitating better absorption and utilization by crops. A notable approach in nanofertilizer formulation is the controlled release of nutrients, ensuring a steady and gradual availability of essential elements to plants throughout their growth cycle. This approach curtails excessive fertilizer application, reduces leaching, minimizes negative environmental impact, and enhances nutrient utilization efficiency. Innovative carriers, in turn, play a fundamental role in the precise delivery of nutrients. Eco-friendly materials are being explored as sustainable alternatives to encapsulate the nutrients, ensuring they are available to plants when needed. This not only contributes to the preservation of natural resources but also reduces the negative environmental impacts associated with conventional agriculture. Therefore, this review article highlights promising advancements in agricultural technology, with a focus on the utilization of slow-release nanofertilizers and innovative carriers as sources of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in agricultural practices, emphasizing the use of these technologies to promote environmental sustainability and agricultural efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Slow release of nutrients
• smart agriculture
• sustainability in agriculture
• nanofertilizers
• innovative carriers
• agricultural technology

Acknowledgements

The authors thank CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and FAPEAM (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas) for the financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors contributions

Helder B. E. Sales, Adriano de S. Carolino, Ronald Z. de A. Nunes and Célio M. A. Macalia: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing. Camila M. Ruzo and Camila da C. Pinto: Review & editing. Edgar A. Sanches conceived the idea, supervised the findings of this work and wrote the manuscript with support from Jaqueline de A. Bezerra, Pedro H. Campelo, Ștefan Țălu and Luiz K. C. de Souza.

Data availability statement

The data that supports the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Código Financeiro 001), FAPEAM (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, Edital N. 008/2021 – PROSPAM/FAPEAM, 01.02.016301.03186/2021-25 – Adriano de S. Carolino and Ronald Z. de A. Nunes).