沙漠研究 19-1, 129- 132 (2009 )Journal of Arid Land Studies“Desert Technology IX ”
Refereed Paper

Increasing Fertilizer and Pesticide Use Efficiency by Nanotechnology
in Desert Afforestation, Arid Agriculture
Hiroaki MOCHIZUKI1, Prakash Kumar GAUTAM2, Sangeeta SINHA3, 4, Sanjay KUMAR3, 4
Abstract: Low water and fertilizer use efficiency has detrimental effect on arid area agriculture
and afforestation. Nanofertlizer application through foliar and earthen pot system has
immense potential in overcoming these lacunae. A comparative study of root, stem and fruitgrowth was conducted on Emblica officinalis (Aonla-Chakaia, NA7) with reference to tradition
method of fertilizer application and foiliar as well as earthen pot based nanofertlizer application.
Result indicates 40% higher growth in terms of carbon content and four times stronger growth
in root system.
Keywords: Desert afforestation, Earthen pot system, Fertilizer use efficiency, Nanofertlizer

1. Introduction
Biotechnological innovations in agriculture sciences won’t be sufficient to feed the burgeoning
population by next decade. At the same time, existing agricultural lands are on decline due tourbanization, industrialization and biofuel productionA). Areas under organic farming have been also
increasing, thereby, reducing productivity by almost half. Traditional methods of agriculture andplantation contribute to rapid losses of applied nutrients and thus, fertilizer use efficiency. This isparticularly true with nitrogen. In India, the average fertilizer use efficiency is 12-13% only, which
accounts for a loss of Rs. 6.5 billion/yr. Besides, the process of fertilizer application gives rise tounbalanced fertilization. In an experiment on balanced fertilization of K-N ratio (1:0.36), the agronomic
efficiency of N increased from 11.5 kg grain (per kg N) to 14.8 kg, and the recovery efficiency increased
from 31 to 40%.
Nanotechnology has potential to bring revolution in the field of arid afforestation and agriculture. It
facilitates enhanced and elegant properties of molecules that could be developed in material if used atnanoscale. They have intrinsic properties of different kinds, so the majority of the atoms are in thedifferent environment showing different physical, chemical, mechanical, optical properties, which can beexploited for different uses. These nano-structured molecules can change the concept of fertilizers andirrigation methods. Arid area agriculture and desert rehabilitation could be techno-economically feasible.
2. Thermodynamical concept of nanofertilizer
Concept of nanofertilizer is based on the laws of thermodynamics, which sates that entropy of theparticular particle is based on randomness. When it is present in emulsion form, nanograde colloids havemore suspension compared to ordinary grade fertilizer. Therefore it has more entropy. Entropy is
directly proportional to Gibbs free energy. With increase in Gibbs free energy (G) of the colloidal
particles its movement would also increase. This enhances the permeability of the particles across themembrane. Hence particles penetrate the cell membrane and enter inside the xylem of the plant. It
theoretically explains why the absorption of nanofertilizer is more than that of commercial grade fertilizers
in foliar application of fertilizer. Gibbs free energy (G = H –TS) can have positive, negative or zero value.
Here, H = Enthalpy, S = entropy, T = temperature. If G is negative, the reaction is spontaneous andmoves in forward direction. If G is zero, the reaction is at equilibrium. And if G is positive thenreaction is non spontaneous. As temperature increases Gibbs free energy decreases (according to theequation). But in normal condition, we do not have control over temperature. Hence, to decrease Gibbs
free energy for increasing the reaction rate in forward direction, the other way is to increase entropy of thesystem. Here we exploit the nature of nanofertilizer whereby entropy is bound to be high. We can find
1Department of Agricultural Sc. & Natural Resources, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, JapanJawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, India
3
Centre for Appropriate Technology, Chandragupt Institute of Management, Chhajubagh, Patna – 800001, Bihar, India
4CREER, PO Box - 5, Muzaffarpur - 842001, Bihar, India; Ph. - +91-9431239820, E-mail: creer@sancharnet.in2

130out the range of size of nanograde so that to attain negative Gibbbs free energy optimally. In this way, theconcept of free energy enhances the rate of penetration of nanofertilizer when their randomness is highinside the tissues of the plant.
3. Materials and Methods
When nano-structured particles of fertilizers are used, it can be called nanofertilizer. The concept ofnanofertilizer is similar to that of zeolite used as zeoponic (www.zeoponix.com). Zeoponics increasenutrient retention, reduce environmental nutrient losses and reduce fertilizer requirements by establishing areplenishable and balanced nutrient supply in the plant root zone. Application of urea fertilizer(molecular wt. 60.06 mg, H - 6.71%, C – 20.0%, N – 46.65%, O – 26.64%) at nanoscale, in 10-100 nm size
against usual size of 10-3 m is one such example.
When urea is applied, it first reacts with soil moisture (water) and forms ammonium carbonate.
Ammonium carbonate is highly unstable at neutral pH, which will break into ammonium ion and carbonate
ion, at the same time ammonia gas is formed. Ammonia gas escapes to atmosphere, called evaporation
loss of nitrogen. The conversion of amide form of urea into ammonical form takes about 4-6 days.
Ammonical form of NH4+ is consumed by the plant root. The loss of nitrogen is due to two reasons: (1)Draining out of urea much deeper in the soil till it gets converted into ammonical form which is consumed
by the root for plant growth and, (2) loss of nutrient in form of ammonia gas to the environment.
Presence of nanoscale molecules in urea increases the reaction rate of conversion of urea into ammoniumion. Besides, more surface area speeds up the dissociation rate of ammonium carbonate into ammonium
ion and carbonate ion. Nanofertilizer remains available in the emulsion form through out the water layer
in water logged condition, and/or earthen pot irrigation system. To block ammonia gas from escaping toenvironment, a layer of inhibitors or nanoclusters on the surface of the soil (that is water logged) may beused (Giocchini et al., 2002). This ammonia will further combine with the carbon dioxide, an output ofroot respiration process, to ultimately form ammonical form of urea, to be consumed by plant. The nanolayer created on the water surface reduces not only the losses of the free water but also help in therecycling of the carbon.
Foliar application of nanofertilizer also increases fertilizer use efficiency. Zeolite-based synthetic
substrate, termed zeoponics (nanograde fertilizer), consists of NH4+ and K+. These ions occur in free form
which can easily be exchanged. It contains clinoptilolite and a synthetic apatite whose water solution
provides essential nutrients through mineral dissolution and ion exchange to the whole plant. This
fertilizer should remain in the form of colloidal suspension which readily spreads into plant tissues due totheir nanostructured form. The nanostructured fertilizer easily crosses plasma membrane after the spraythrough the xylem tissues which appear on the surface of the leaf as shown in Figure 1. Nanostructured
fertilizer is expected to be translocated into the plant. This creates the vegetative growth in plant during
the early stage so plant survives even under drought condition. The free NH4+ ion could easily beabsorbed by the plant.
Emblica officinalis (Aonla-Chakaia, NA7) is selected for plantation due to its proven ability
towithstand harshness of arid climate and bad soil conditions. It has several medicinal values. Modern
uses include pronounced expectorant, antioxidant, anti cancerous. The effectiveness of nanofertilizer(nano particles of urea, (NH2)2CO) and nano organic pesticide (nano particles of neem oil in 25 ppm
concentration) was used in the field experiments. Two sets of experiments are conducted, (1) fertilizer
and pesticide application through conventional surface irrigation and (2) fertilizer and pesticide application
through foilar spray and earthen pot.
Oval shaped Earthen pots of 12 -18 lts capacity and 30 cm depth inside the soil were used. Two small
holes of 1 cm diameter were made at the bottom of the pot and jute rope, is used to connect them with the rootzone of the plant. It supplies fertilizer mixed water in colloidal form to the roots of the plants by capillaryaction at a depth of 30 cm, the depth where evaporation effect is balanced by gravitational force (Gautam etal., 2006). This allows maximum water absorption by the root system. Though, there has been someevaporation from the opening of the earthen pot, it was important to control the temperature of the water
during high temperature in summer. The earthen pot having capacity of 15 lts are filled up every week. It
took 3-4 days to be completely empty. Plants were stressed for three days in a week.

131Transported molecule

Carrierprotein

ChannelproteinConcentration
Gradient

lipid
bilayereEnrg

Channelmediated

ysimplediffusion

Carrier
mediated

Passive TransportActive Transport

Fig. 1. Foiliar application of nanostructured fertilizer and mechanism.
Table 1. Organic neem pesticide (Azadirachtin) concentration when used with earthen pot system.

Position
Top Layer
Middle Layer
Bottom Layer

Expected
25 ppm25 ppm25 ppmActual Conc.
75 ppm16 ppm
7 ppm

Disparity+200%- 36%-75%

Overall result
3 times (dangerous)
1/3 shortfall (poor)
3 times shortfall (very poor)% Content
1872
10

4. Results and Discussion
Conventional organic neem pesticide (Azadirachtin) when used through earthen pot system hasvariable concentration as shown as in Table 1. When nanopaticles were used, the concentration remainedsame (25 ppm) throughout the layer. Similar was the case with nanofertilizers. This indicates fertilizer
and pesticide use efficiency increases with water use efficiency due to emulsification.
Figures 2 and 3 show the plant growth after two years when (1) fertilizer and pesticides were used inconventional mode with surface irrigation, and (2) nanofertilizer and naopesticide were used in earthen pot
system and foiliar application. The amount of fertilizer used in the later case is half of the former.
Figures 2b and 3b show the root development in the two cases. In the former, root development is weakand equally distributed in all directions. In the latter case roots going beneath the earthen pot are muchstronger. The perimeter of the strongest root was found 7.1 cm nearly four times the roots of the former.
The stem diameter at knot was found to be 17.8 and 20.3 cm respectively, nearly 15% more than theformer. Height of the plant was nearly same but branch development was stronger and better in thenanofertilizer application case (Figs 2a and 3a). It indicates deeper penetration of main root system inquest of water seeping to deeper depths due to gravity and sandy soil. However, it has very adverse effecton branch development, necessary for fruiting. While the former has no fruiting in the first year, the later
bore fruits.

Fig. 2a. Surface Irrigation and fertilizerapplication.

Fig. 3a. Foliar and EP based nanofertilizer
application.

132

Fig.

2b.

Root development
application.

inSurfaceFig. 3b. Root development in EP fertilizer
application.

Fig. 2c. Knot diameter in fertilizer application.

Fig. 3c. Knot diameter EP fertilizer application.

These preliminary results indicate that the behaviour pattern of fertilizer use efficiency particularly incase of urea at nanoscale (10-100 nm size against usual size of 10-3 m). If the total carbon content of theplant is considered, the fertilizer use efficiency is 40% more in the later case even in two year period.
5. Conclusions
Substantial growth in fertilizer use efficiency can be achieved by nanoscale fertilizers in the wake ofglobal warming. Other advantages include, increase in chances of plant survival, higher stem yield atlower input price. Given the demand and economic importance of Emblica officinalis, the methodology
developed has immense potential. It uses environment friendly earthen pot, which uses local materials
and also generates employment in remote areas. Besides, the rapid growth of Emblica officinalis in suchan hostile environment provides hope for the growth of other plants too.
AnnotationA) Mac Margolis (2007): Untold Harvest, Newsweek, pp 54-55, April 16/April 23.
B) http://www.zeoponix.com/zeolite.htm
References
Gautam P.K., Pallavi B., Sanjay Kumar, Sinha S., Balkhi S.H., Mochizuki H. (2006): Development of Earthen Pot based Irrigation
System: A Cost-effective Alternative to Expensive Underground and Drip Irrigation in Arid Areas. Journal of Arid Land Studies,
15(4): 305-308.
Giocchini P., Nastri A., Marzadori C., Giovannini C., Antisari L.V., Gessa C. (2002): Influence of urea and nitrification inhibitors on
N-losses from soils fertilized with urea. Biol. Fertil. Soils, 3:129-135.
Sinha S., Matsumoto T., Tanaka Y., Ishida J., Kojima T., Sanjay Kumar (2001): Solar Desalination of Saline Soil for Afforestation inArid Areas: Numerical and Experimental Investigation. Energy Convers & Mgmt., 43:15-31.