Nano Fertilizer- a new approach for a better Smart Fertilizer System.

1. Dewali Roy
M.sc 2nd Year
A-2017-10-M
Soils -590
Master Seminar-I

2. Introduction
Nanotechnology is
the understanding
and control of
matter of sizes
roughly in the
range of 1 to 100
nanometers.
The term "Nanotechnology" was first defined in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi of
the Tokyo Science University and it is focusing on special properties of
materials emerging from Nano metric size along with manipulating matter
at an atomic and molecular scale (Arivalagan et al.,2011).
Fig No. 1

3. Properties of Nano particles
• Extremely high Specific
surface area.
• Super Para magnetism.
• Brownian motion.
• High zeta potential.
• Efficient drug release.
• Encapsulation energy.
( Tarafder,2015)
Fig No. 2 behaviour of NP’s in soil
(IJS,2015)

4. Nano-fertilizers are
Nutrient carriers that
are being developed
using substrates with
Nano dimensions of 1 –
100 nm.
“Nano Fertilizers” are synthesized or modified form of traditional fertilizers,
fertilizers bulk materials or extracted from different vegetative or reproductive
parts of the plant by different chemical, physical, mechanical or biological
methods with the help of nanotechnology used to improve soil fertility,
productivity and quality of agricultural produces(Brunnert I et al,2006).
Fig No. 4 (agris.afo.org)

5. Why Nano Fertilizer???
• Fertilizer consumption has increased to 0.5 to 24 million tonnes over
last 50 years (1960-2013) (2014,Indian economy)
• Imbalanced fertilization- The ideal ratio of N:P:K is 4:2:1 whereas in
India it is 10:2.7:1 leading Multi Nutrient deficiency- crop loss by 25-
30% (Qureshi et el.,2018).
• Fertilizer response ratio has been declining. To achieve target of 300
MT food grains by 2025 , requirement of 45 MT of nutrients as now 24
MT of current consumption level.(Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci ,2018)
• Country is in need of a 2nd Green Revolution. Nano fertilizers are
envisioned to have the potential to revolutionize agriculture.

6. A SNDS should consider the
factors such as time controlled,
specifically or controlled targeted,
remotely regulated/ pre-
programmed and multifunction
characteristics to avoid biological
barriers for successful targeted
release of required nutrients(Nair
et al.2010). “Nano-fertilizers” have
high surface area, sorption
capacity, and controlled-release
kinetics to targeted sites
attributing them as smart delivery
system.
Fig No. 5 (www.rosayon.com)
Smart Nutrient Delivery
System(SNDS)

7. In Nano-fertilizers, Nutrients can be
encapsulated by Nano materials, coated
with a thin protective film, or delivered
as emulsions or nano particles.
Coating and binding of nano-particles
help to regulate the release of nutrients
from the fertilizer capsule. Nutrient can
be encapsulated inside nano materials
such as nano tubes nano porous
(A. Qureshi et el.,2018).
Behavioral Pattern of Nano Fertilizers
Fig No. 6 (The Nanotechnology.
Scientific Publisher, India)

8. Solubility High Low
Dispersion of mineral
micronutrients
Improved dispersion of
insoluble nutrients
Lower solubility due to large
particle size
Soil adsorption and
fixation
Reduced High
Bioavailability High Low
Efficiency of nutrients
uptake
Increased uptake ratio;
saves fertilizer resource
Conventional fertilizer is not
available to roots and the nutrients
uptake efficiency is low
Controlled release
Release rate and pattern
precisely controlled
Excess release leading to toxicity
and soil imbalance
Effective duration of
release
Extended effective
duration
Used by the plant at the site and
time of application; the rest is
converted into insoluble form
Loss rate
Reduced loss of fertilizer
nutrients
High loss rate due to leaching,
drifting, run-off
Table 1-Comparison of nanotechnology-based formulations and conventional fertilizers applications (Cui
et al., 2010)

9. Characteristics of Zeolites
 Zeolites, a naturally occurring mineral
group consisting of about 50 mineral
types, a good growing medium substrate
for a long period due to its good physical
and chemical characteristics (Markovich
et al., 1995).
 Highly porous molecular matrix with an
immense surface area and negative
charge acts as a magnet attracting,
holding cations ( Desborough,1996).
 The current growing awareness of the
phenomenon and availability of
inexpensive natural Zeolites in the world
has aroused considerable commercial
interest on developing Zeolite based
Nano fertilizer.
Fig No.8 (International J Physical Science)

10. Nano Nitrogen
 Clinoptilolite Zeolite (CZ), a porous mineral
with high CEC up to 300 c mol (p+) kg-1 and
with great affinity for NH4
+ (Ming and
Mumpton, 1989) reduce NH3 emission from
farm manure (Amon et al., 1997), and to
eliminate NH3 toxicity to plants (Gupta et al.,
1997).
 Zeolite has the potential to reduce ammonia
volatilization by sequestering ammonium-
Non exchange cites. addition of 6.25% zeolite
resulted in a 50 % reduction in ammonia
volatilization (Lefcourt and Meisinger,2001).
 Application of (NH4)2SO4 loaded into CZ
was observed to minimize N leaching and to
increase N utilization by crops in sandy soils
compared with (NH4)2SO4 alone (Perrin et
al., 1998).
Surfactant-modified zeolite
(SMZ) using hexa
decyltrimethyl as fertilizer
carrier control nitrate
release found good
absorbate of NO3
2-
(Li,2003).
Fig No. 9

11. Nano Phosphorus
Zeolites (clinoptilolite), when saturated
with mono-valent nutrient cations,
such as NH3
+ and K+ have been
reported to increase the solubility of
phosphate rock (PR) (Malhi et al.,
2002) .
(P-rock) + (NH4 – zeolite) = (Ca zeolite)
(NH4) + (H2PO4
-)
The zeolite takes Ca2+ from the
Phosphate rock, thereby releasing both
Phosphate and ammonium ions.
Released phosphate for an extended
period of 40- 50 days where the
conventional fertilizer let out nutrients
only up to 10- 12 days.
SMZ-potential strategy to promote PUE
which hardly exceed
18-20 % in conventional one (Sharmila
Rahale,2011).
Fig No. 10 ((The Nanotechnology.Scientific
Publisher, India)
)

12. Nano Potassium
 Application of chemical fertilizer at the rate 625 kg ha-1mixed with Zeolite
125 kg ha-1 indicated the largest amount of potassium in the soil because
zeolite had potential to hold more K from chemical fertilizer and reduce it
from leakage (Mazur et al.,1986).
 Among all, potassium is the only element with the highest ion-exchange
capacity of 216 c mol (p+) Kg-1 (Dakovic et al.,2007) and consequently, it is
very easily released from the crystal zeolite structure into the soil solution,
eventually increasing its total content in the soil (Treacy and Higgins,2001).
 Their selectivity of ion exchange on zeolite was determined in an order of
K+ > NH4
+ > Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ (Guo et al.,2008).

13. Secondary and Micro Nutrients Nano-
Fertilizer
 Zeolite showed slow release fertilizer
for Calcium and magnesium
(Supapron et al., 2007) and also is
able to freely exchange nutrient ions
such as calcium and magnesium
(Fansuri et al.,2008).
 feasibility of using (SMZ) as
fertilizer additives to control sulfate
release, was tested in batch and
column leaching experiments which
indicated that SMZ could be a good
carrier for sulfate (Li and
Zhang,2010).
 Cationic micronutrients have been
enhanced by the presence of Zeolite
in neutral soil (Eberl,2008).
 MCM-41 type Zeolite gave the
evidences for the incorporation of
Mo (Rana and Viswanathan ,1998).
 Chabazite and bentonite minerals,
have a high potential for Zn and Fe
sorption (Sheta et al., 2003).

14. Scenario in India
• First approach towards Nano
Fertlizer in India had done by Dr. J.C
tarafder at CAZARI (ISJ,2014).
• While the cost of SSP is Rs. 480-640
and DAP is Rs. 1500-2000/ha (both
after subsidy). Nano Phosphorus is
just Rs.352-396/ ha depending upon
the leaf size of the plants.
• PUE is found to be 58-51%,where it is
15-16 % for both SSP and DAP.
Some Commercials Nano
Fertilizers
Nano Phos Nano Potash
Nano Zinc
Nano Chelated
Nitrogen

15. Constraints
National academy of
science,2015

16. Future scope
• Reserch is under way to develop
Nano composites to supply all
required nutrients in suitable
proportions in a smart nutrient
delivery system.
• Assessing the impact and fate of
Nano fertilizers on soil and
beneficial microorganism.
• Optimizing concentration and
Doses and SSNM of Nano
fertilizers in precision agriculture
to achieve better result in crop
production.
•Nanotechnology applications in
agriculture is still at the Nascent
stage and a lot more applications
can be expected in the years to
come.
•Introduction of any new technology
always has an ethical responsibility
along with the tremendous positive
potential.
•Public awareness about the
advantages and challenges of Nano
Fertilizers will lead to better
acceptance of this emerging
technology in near future.
conclusion