Role of nano fertilizers on improving drought tolerance of maize

Maize is a versatile crop that is primarily used as human food and animal feed. It is also a fundamental raw material utilized in various industrial products owing to its nutritional value. One of the most harmful abiotic stresses in maize cultivation is drought. A water shortage caused by drought limits crop development and yield because there is less available moisture. Water shortage stress causes restricted stomatal opening, enhanced photorespiration and accelerated photoreduction of oxygen in the chloroplast. Eventually, this causes oxidative damage in maize owing to ROS accumulation. Plants respond to drought stress by producing the phytohormone abscisic acid, closing their stomata, changing gene expression and preserving their osmotic balance. Nano micro fertilizers are a phenomenal tool for drought tolerance when combined with deficit soil moisture in maize. When it is paired with deficit soil moisture, nano micro fertilizers are an incredible weapon for drought tolerance under changing climatic conditions. It aids in keeping maize's green characteristics. The greater advantages of using nano micro fertilizers in maize are retention of chlorophyll, regulation of stomatal openings, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the proliferation of roots and higher grain filling, which resulted in higher productivity. The development of stay-green character and drought resistance in maize is positively influenced by nano micro fertilizer with suitable form and dose. Under drought conditions, nanomicronutrients play a critical role in controlling physiological processes, reducing oxidative stress and preserving cellular homeostasis. Additionally, every micronutrient acts differently and produces a different physiological response related to drought tolerance.