Nano Fertilisers in Maize (Zea mays L.) Production: Pathways to Efficiency, Sustainability, and Climate-Smart Agriculture

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a critical cereal crop underpinning food security, livestock nutrition, and industrial applications worldwide. Conventional fertilisers have historically driven yield gains, but their low nutrient-use efficiency and environmental consequences—such as soil degradation, eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions—pose major sustainability challenges. Nano fertilisers, particularly nano urea and nano diammonium phosphate (DAP), represent a promising innovation designed to enhance nutrient delivery, reduce losses, and improve crop uptake efficiency. This review synthesises current evidence on the agronomic, physiological, environmental, and economic impacts of nano fertilisers in maize systems. Field trials demonstrate that nano formulations can reduce nitrogen and phosphorus inputs by up to 25% without compromising yield, while improving chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activity, stress tolerance, and nutrient recovery efficiency. Integration with organic amendments such as farmyard manure further strengthens soil fertility and microbial activity, enhancing long-term sustainability. Environmental benefits include reduced nitrous oxide emissions, lower nutrient runoff, and decreased energy intensity in fertiliser use. Economically, nano fertilisers lower input costs, improve benefit–cost ratios, and offer value to smallholder farmers in resource-constrained settings. Despite these advantages, challenges remain, including the need for long-term multi-location trials, robust regulatory frameworks, and farmer awareness programs. Future research should explore ecosystem impacts, integration with precision agriculture, and synergistic use with biofertilisers. Collectively, nano fertilisers offer a climate-smart, resource-efficient pathway to sustainable maize production and contribute to global food security goals.