Unraveling Nanofertilizers' Influence on Soil Microbial Communities in Mustard‐Pearl Millet Cropping Systems

ABSTRACT Nanofertilization is becoming increasingly popular in global agriculture for enhancing crop productivity. Nevertheless, its influence on soil microbial composition is still not well comprehended. This research endeavors to evaluate the effects of combining nano and traditional fertilizers (conventional practice) on essential soil biological parameters and the yield of mustard and pearl millet crops. The results indicated that applying 75% of the recommended nitrogen alongside the full dose of phosphorus and potassium with conventional fertilizers, along with nano urea (nano‐N) or nano urea and nano Zinc (Nano‐N + Nano‐Zn) sprays (N 75 PK + nano‐N or N 75 PK + nano‐N + nano‐Zn), led to comparable grain yields over the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) in mustard and pearl millet crops. Specifically, mustard yielded 2.21 t ha −1 under N 75 PK + nano‐N and 2.29 t ha −1 under N 75 PK + nano‐N + nano‐Zn, while pearl millet produced 3.27 t ha −1 under N 75 PK + nano‐N and 3.32 t ha −1 under N 75 PK + nano‐N + nano‐Zn. The application of N 75 PK + nano‐N (with dehydrogenase activities of 39.9 μg TPF g −1 for mustard and 38.5 μg TPF g −1 for pearl millet) or N 75 PK + nano‐N + nano‐Zn (with dehydrogenase activities of 34.6 μg g −1 for mustard and 37.3 μg g −1 for pearl millet) resulted in dehydrogenase activities similar to those observed with the RDF, which were 38.1 μg g −1 for mustard and 39.5 μg g −1 for pearl millet. The application of nanofertilizers enhanced microbial diversity, especially promoting Actinobacteriota at the phylum level, which were predominant under N 75 PK + nano‐N (MU 5 ) and N 75 PK + nano‐N + nano‐Zn (MU 6 ) treatments. This suggests a potential shift toward beneficial microbial communities, improving soil functional diversity. The combined approach also increased beneficial microorganisms, contributing to soil biological health. Furthermore, nanofertilizers facilitated enhanced crop‐microbe‐soil interactions by supporting beneficial microbial populations, thereby improving nutrient cycling and crop productivity. This indicates that the application of nanofertilizers through foliar spray with 75% N through urea represents a sustainable method concerning both crop yield and soil biological functions. Overall, the findings of this study advocate for a balanced integration of conventional and nanofertilizers for enhanced productivity, soil fertility, and microbial diversity.