Development, Efficiency, and Impact Factors of Phosphorus Nanofertilizers in Agriculture: A Review

ABSTRACT Modern intensive agriculture to feed the growing population of the world has been practiced in view of the limitations of arable land and water resources. However, overapplication of chemical fertilizers may pose severe environmental impacts, including soil degradation, water eutrophication, and pollution of groundwater. One of the current trends to reduce the adverse effects of fertilizers is the application of nanotechnology, which has an exciting potential to increase fertilizer efficiency and sustainability. We carried out a systematic literature review through Web of Science and Scopus. The used keywords were “nanofertilizers,” “phosphorus nanoparticles,” “nutrient‐use efficiency,” and “crop development.” Only studies that meet strict inclusion criteria regarding synthesis, application, plant uptake mechanism, and detailed insight into nanofertilizers were considered. To better understand the conditions that most foster nanofertilizer application, we reviewed the factors affecting nutrient‐use efficiency in plants. On this basis, focusing on phosphorus (P), we analyzed recent progress made on using P nanofertilizers and their effect on the development of various crops. The economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of using nanofertilizers are both presented to make informed decisions by both farmers and industries on the use and manufacturing of the substances. Our review has established that nanofertilizers hold great promise for improving nutrient‐use efficiency and crop productivity, with special mention of phosphorus nanofertilizers, which can offer improved nutrient uptake, reduced environmental pollution, and possibly reduced fertilizer application rates. However, P nanofertilizers face adoption barriers such as unstudied long‐term environmental impacts, costly and unsustainable production methods, inconsistent performance across soils and crops requiring tailored formulations, and lack of regulations and safety guidelines. Transitioning to practical use demands prioritized research using long‐term trials and affordable green synthesis methods to address these gaps.