Green-synthesized nano-fertilizers: a sustainable approach to enhancing crop productivity and stress tolerance

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• Green NF offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fertilizers.. • Green NFs enable targeted nutrient delivery significantly enhancing crop productivity. • Green NFs increase plant’s tolerance to stress by scavenging ROS to mitigate oxidative stress. • Green NFs modulate hormone levels and promote overall plant health. Growing global food demand and stagnant yields caused by nutrient inefficiencies threaten sustainable agriculture. Conventional chemical fertilizers, while increasing crop productivity, often alters soil physicochemical and biological properties and cause environmental damage, highlighting a critical gap in sustainable crop nutrition. Moreover, conventional application methods are causing chemical overdosing, leading to eutrophication, nitrogen volatilization, and progressive release of greenhouse gases. In contrast, nanotechnology provides a groundbreaking solution. Nano-fertilizers (NFs) serve as concentrated sources of plant nutrients, encapsulated in nanomaterials that easily pass through stomata and root hairs, and penetrate deeper into plant tissues. This significantly decreases nutrient loss, enhances nutrient efficiency, thereby boosting plant productivity. The green synthesis of NFs uses eco-friendly plant extracts as reducing agents, and their high solubility allows for easy foliar and root application. This review offers a structured evaluation of the potential for green-synthesized NFs as effective, environmentally friendly alternatives. Green NFs significantly boost crop yields compared to conventional chemical fertilizers, while also helping to mitigate plant stress caused by biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, with additional long-term research, commercial scaling, and regulatory support, green NFs could transform fertilization practices. Moreover, this also provides strategic insights to address nutrient use inefficiencies and promote a more sustainable ecosystem.