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Table 2 Characteristics and use of some nano-scale host fertilizer formulations for plant nutritive needs

From: Switching to nanonutrients for sustaining agroecosystems and environment: the challenges and benefits in moving up from ionic to particle feeding

Nanoformulation

Host

Characteristic

Aim

Test plant

Treatment

Ref.

Nano-CS-NPK

CS + PMAA

No data

To enhance growth productivity in sandy soil

Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Foliar application with 3 times at 3-weeks intervals

In outdoor condition for 2 seasons

[18]

Nano-NPK

CS + PMAA

Uncontrolled morphology with the actual particle size of 8–9 nm by TEM

To check the effect on fruit yield and quality

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Irrigation in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates

[106]

Zinc nanocarrier

CS + TPP

H.D: 325 nm, ZP: + 42.34, spherical morphology, and actual particle size 200 nm by SEM

Agronomic fortification in grains

Wheat

Foliar application twice a week for 5 weeks

[36]

Selenium nanofertilizer

PEI- carbon

100 nm with spherical shape

Controlled and site-specific delivery

10 different vegetable plants

Soil amendment

[166]

Urea-hydroxyapatite nanofertilizer

Hydroxyapatite

Crystalline size of 18 nm with bead-shape

Slow-release of nitrogen

Rice (Oryza sativa)

Soil amendment

[82]

Zinc CS nanoparticles

CS + TPP

H.D: 387 nm, ZP: + 34 mV, spherical morphology, and actual particle size in 200–300 nm by TEM

To promote the crop yield with disease control

Maize (Zea mays)

Seed priming 4 h before showing and foliar applicationwhere spray of nanoformulation was done after 35 days of sowing

[31]

Chitosan-PMAA-NPK nanofertilizer

CS + PMAA

The actual particle size of 38.98, 87.65, and 24.07 nm by TEM, for N, P, and K respectively

Dose-dependent genotoxic and mitotis effect

Pea (Pisum sativum)

Root applicationon 5-day-old seedlings for 1, 2, 4, and 7 days

[78]

Zn/B nanofertilizer

CS + TPP

H.D: 700 nm, ZP: + 35 mV

Biophysical characteristic and growth effect on seedlings

Coffee (Coffea sp.)

Foliar application 3 times in 20 days in the greenhouse

[156]

Zn nanofertilizer

Nano-zeolite

Cubic to round shape

Slow and controlled release of Zn

–

–

[164]

NPK-nanofertilizer

CS + TPP

H.D: 500 nm, ZP: + 50 mV, spherical morphology

Biophysical characteristic and growth effect on seedlings

Coffee

Foliar application 3 times in 15 days in the greenhouse

[56]

Nano Zn fertilizer

CS + TPP + Zein protein coating

H.D: 709 nm, ZP: + 36 mV, spherical morphology, and actual particle size of 80–300 nm by TEM

Slow and controlled released

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Foliar application 25 mL of 50 ppm concentration spray on 30 days old plant

[73]

Potassium nanofertilizer

CS + alginate

H.D: 594 nm, and actual particle size of 151 nm by SEM

Maximum loading with controlled release of potassium

–

–

[119]

CNK fertilizers

CS + MAA

ZP: + 21.8 mV, spherical morphology and actual particle size of 39–79 by TEM

Soil conditioning with biomass production

Maize

Randomized completely block design (RCBD) and consisted of eight treatments in an open field

[83]

Sulfate-supplemented NPK nanofertilizer

CS + TPP

H.D: 145.4 nm and 450.5 nm with ZP = 14.7 mV and 19.9 mV, respectively

Effective growth of plant

Maize

Soil treatment under greenhouse condition

[37]

Chitosan (Cu and SA) nanofertilizer

CS + TPP

H.D: 539.7 nm, ZP: + 37.3 mV, spherical morphology

To improve the source activity of the plant

Maize

Seed treatment 4 h before showing and foliar application sprayed after 55 days of seed showing

[144]

Urea-doped calcium phosphate nanoparticles

Ca-P

Actual particle size-13.8 nm, with disk-shaped morphology

To reduce nitrogen dose requirement

Durum wheat (Triticum durum)

Foliar and root application

[136, 137]