Nitrogen Fixation in Soil under Cold Plasma effect: A Computational study on Nitrogen Stabilization

Abstract The pressing need for sustainable intensification of agriculture calls attention to the inefficiencies and environmental costs of the Haber–Bosch (H–B) process, a process dating back a century that continues to prevail over nitrogen fixation. Cold non-thermal plasma (NTP) technologies provide a low-carbon, decentralized pathway for ammonia synthesis by stimulating atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) under ambient conditions via energetic electron interactions. Concurrently, sub-micron-scale designed nano-fertilizers improve nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), enabling site-specific nutrient delivery and minimizing environmental footprint. Within this review, recent advancements in plasma reactor technologies dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), gliding arc, microwave, and radio-frequency systems—are synthesized with catalyst development and reaction mechanism elucidation. Particular emphasis is given to multiscale modelling approaches integrating fluid dynamics, plasma chemistry, and energy balance calculations to predict ammonia production and reactor operation optimization. Furthermore, synergistic integration of green ammonia from plasmas and nanostructured delivery systems is considered at a critical level. Comparative assessment shows performance advancements as a function of energy input, CO₂ output, and NUE relative to conventional methods. Finally, we provide a strategic research roadmap, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in field-level test validation, material engineering, and modelling-based design. This combination of plasma-enabled green chemistry and nanotechnology-based precision agriculture has transformative potential for sustainable nitrogen management.