From Nanomaterials to Nanofertilizers: Applications, Ecological Risks, and Prospects for Sustainable Agriculture

Nanofertilizers have attracted increasing attention as an approach to improve the low nutrient use efficiency of conventional fertilizers, in which only a limited fraction of applied nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is ultimately taken up by crops. Beyond their capacity to minimize nutrient losses, nanofertilizers have attracted increasing attention for their possible role in addressing environmental issues, including soil eutrophication and the contamination of groundwater systems. Owing to their nanoscale characteristics, including large specific surface area and enhanced adsorption capacity, these materials enable more precise nutrient delivery to the rhizosphere and sustained release over extended periods, while also influencing soil–plant–microbe interactions. In this review, nanofertilizers are classified into six major categories—macronutrient-based, micronutrient-based, organic, controlled-release, composite, and nano-enhanced formulations—and representative examples and preparation routes are summarized, including green synthesis approaches and conventional chemical methods. The agronomic mechanisms associated with nanofertilizer application are discussed, with emphasis on enhanced nutrient uptake, modification of soil physicochemical properties, and shifts in microbial community composition. Reported studies indicate that nanofertilizers can increase crop yield across different crop species and formulations, while also contributing to improved nutrient cycling. Despite these advantages, several limitations continue to restrict their broader adoption. These include uncertainties regarding long-term environmental behavior, relatively high production costs compared with conventional fertilizers, and the absence of well-defined regulatory and safety assessment frameworks in many regions. Overall, this review highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with nanofertilizer application and points to the need for further development of cost-effective formulations and standardized evaluation systems that account for their distinct environmental interactions.