A Novel Assessment Strategy for Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Evaluation of Nanohydroxyapatite as an Alternative Phosphorus Fertiliser

Abstract

Phosphorus, provided by phosphorus fertilisers, is one of the essential nutrients for the healthy growth of plants. Phosphate rocks are strategic resources for phosphorus in agriculture and their supply will become very limited in the near future. As a raw material, phosphorus availability shows a decreasing trend over the last decades upon excessive consumption of phosphate rocks. Moreover, excessive application of conventional phosphorus fertilisers is the primary driving force for eutrophication. Utilisation of engineered nanomaterials in agriculture provides precise delivery of nutrients, together with decreasing the negative environmental impacts of excessive usage of mineral fertilisers. Studies on enhancing the phosphorus uptake efficiency have priority in order to maintain agricultural productivity. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles can be an innovative approach as a new group of phosphorus fertilisers, offering promising potential for enhancement of agronomic yield and reduction of eutrophication. This study provides a brief review of novel approaches for developing more strategic and efficient routes for phosphorus uptake upon hydroxyapatite utilisation in order to improve crop production.

A Circular Economy Model to Improve Phosphate Rock Fertiliser Using Agro-Food By-Products

“…On the other hand, PR lost about 24% of its initial total phosphorus over 30 days, thus suggesting a good performance of all the mixtures in increasing the solubility of phosphate rock. Relatedly, several studies have documented the adoption of different strategies or practices for increasing phosphate rock solubility, such as the addition of zeolite and pillared clay [31], nanoparticles [32], a combination with acid mine waste [29], co-composting [22], a combination with green waste [23], co-application with manure [24] or other amendments [25], and enrichment with microorganisms [27,28]. The effects of all these strategies were directly or indirectly ascribable to acidifying effects.…”

“…In this context, numerous co-application techniques have been proposed in the literature, such as the addition of biomasses [22][23][24][25], microorganisms [26][27][28], and inorganic substances to agricultural soils [29][30][31][32]. However, many of the proposed solutions are complex and expensive, limiting their practical application at the field level.…”

The Impact of Urea-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanomaterials as a Potential Substitute for Traditional Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers in Acidic Cultivation Environments

“…However, nanoparticle manipulation can be complicated and require advanced modification methods. Avşar (2022) presents a new method for assessing nanohydroxyapatite as an agricultural phosphorus fertilizer substitute. The method involves testing nanohydroxyapatite's nutrient delivery efficacy.…”

An Evaluation of Phosphogypsum (PG) -Derived Nanohydroxyapatite (HAP) Synthesis Methods and Waste Management as a Phosphorus Source in the Agricultural Industry

“…Additionally, the P resource in the phosphate fertilizers is based on phosphoric acid, in which the phosphate rock is the original resource of the P used in agriculture. Limited phosphate rock resources are an increasing concern, since the availability of P in the agriculture has been showing a decreasing trend related to the extensive consumption of phosphate rocks [15].…”