Nanofertilizers in vegetable crops: Harnessing nanotechnology for improved crop nutrition and environmental sustainability

Nanofertilizers represent a groundbreaking advancement in agricultural technology, offering a sustainable solution to enhance crop nutrition and address the challenges of global food security. Traditional fertilizers, while essential for crop production, often result in significant nutrient losses, environmental pollution and soil degradation due to low nutrient use efficiency (NUE). In contrast, nanofertilizers, engineered at the nanoscale, provide precise and controlled nutrient delivery, minimizing losses and maximizing plant uptake. These innovative fertilizers improve NUE, enhance crop yields and reduce environmental impacts such as nutrient leaching and water pollution. By leveraging nanotechnology, nanofertilizers facilitate better nutrient absorption, improved root development and enhanced stress tolerance in plants, leading to higher-quality produce and extended shelf life, particularly in fresh-cut vegetables. This review explores the transformative potential of nanofertilizers in sustainable agriculture, highlighting their mechanisms of action, benefits and applications across various crops. Despite their promise, challenges such as regulatory concerns, production costs and potential ecological risks must be addressed to ensure their safe and widespread adoption. As the global population continues to grow, nanofertilizers stand at the forefront of agricultural innovation, offering a pathway to sustainable crop production and food security. Future research should focus on optimizing nanofertilizer formulations, assessing long-term environmental impacts and developing cost-effective production strategies to facilitate their large-scale adoption.