Transforming Sustainable Agriculture through Nano-Coated Biofertilizers for Enhanced Soil Health and Crop Productivity

Sustainable agriculture requires innovative nutrient management strategies capable of improving crop productivity while maintaining soil health and reducing environmental impacts. Nano-coated biofertilizers have emerged as a promising technology that integrates nanomaterials with beneficial microbial inoculants to enhance nutrient delivery, microbial stability, and plant growth performance. This review synthesizes current scientific evidence on the potential of nano-coated biofertilizers to improve soil biological functions and crop productivity within sustainable agricultural systems. A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and complemented with bibliometric analysis. Relevant publications were retrieved from ScienceDirect and screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria based on publication year, topic relevance, article type, and language. Following the PRISMA screening stages, a total of 16 peer-reviewed research articles were included in the final qualitative analysis. The reviewed studies indicate that nano-coated biofertilizers formulated with various nanomaterials, including metal-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanocarriers, and nano-structured nutrient carriers, can improve microbial stability, regulate nutrient release, and increase nutrient use efficiency in the soil–plant system. These mechanisms enhance soil microbial activity, promote nutrient cycling, and reduce nutrient losses, thereby supporting healthier and more resilient soil ecosystems. At the plant level, nano-enabled biofertilizers stimulate root development, increase nutrient uptake, improve tolerance to abiotic stress, and enhance crop productivity while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. However, challenges related to formulation stability, large-scale production, and environmental safety remain important considerations for future research and agricultural implementation.