A new comprehensive review highlights the emerging potential of biochar-based nanofertilizers (BC-NFs) as a climate-smart solution for improving soybean productivity, soil health, and long-term agricultural sustainability. The authors report that conventional fertilizers often fail to provide lasting nutrient availability, leading to nutrient loss, declining soil fertility, and environmental degradation. In contrast, BC-NFs—produced from agricultural biomass and metal salts—offer multiple soil and plant benefits due to their porous nano-scale structure and rich functional groups.
The paper explains that biochar’s high surface area, alkaline pH, and strong cation exchange capacity help retain essential nutrients, enhance soil aeration, and improve water-holding capacity—all critical factors for soybean growth under climate-induced stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes. BC-NFs also encourage beneficial soil microbes, including nitrogen-fixing organisms and mycorrhizal fungi, further supporting nutrient cycling.
According to the review, nanofertilizer properties enable slow and controlled nutrient release, minimizing leaching and improving nutrient-use efficiency. The authors highlight that BC-NFs can reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions by immobilizing nitrogen and enhancing soil aeration, placing them firmly within climate-resilient agricultural strategies.
The study documents how BC-NFs improve soil structure, reduce bulk density, increase porosity, and create microhabitats that boost enzymatic activity crucial for nutrient cycling. These effects contribute to sustained soil fertility and improved soybean performance, especially in nutrient-poor or climatically stressed environments.
The authors conclude that while BC-NFs represent a promising sustainable technology, standardized production methods and large-scale field evaluations are still needed. They recommend expanded long-term research to understand interactions with soil microbes, optimize application methods, and validate BC-NF performance across diverse agro-climatic systems.
Reference
Ahmad, M., Younas, Z., Hamdard, M.H. et al. Biochar based nano-fertilizers: a sustainable strategy for enhancing soybean productivity, soil health, and climate resilience. Plant Soil (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07998-z
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