Sustainability in agriculture has gained immense importance worldwide due to population growth, global warming, declining soil fertility, excessive use of agrochemicals, water shortages and environmental pollution. Agricultural nanotechnology is an emerging technology capable of addressing these issues through enhanced crop productivity, efficient resource utilisation and environment-friendly practices. The main objective of this systematic literature review is to examine current trends, applications, limitations and future scope of agricultural nanotechnology as an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture. This review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework to conduct a rigorous search and evaluation. Scientific publication published between 2015 and 2026 related to nanotechnology, nano-fertiliser, nano-pesticides, nanosensors, precision agriculture and sustainable agriculture were retrieved from the Scopus database. Out of these studies, a total of 398 were included in this systematic literature review based on predetermined selection criteria. From the results, it is evident that nanotechnology has great potential in improving nutrient use efficiency, crop growth, plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, reducing agrochemical waste and promoting precision agriculture. nano-fertilisers, nano-pesticides, nanosensors and smart delivery devices were found among major fields of research that contributed to sustainable agriculture. It was observed from bibliometric analysis that there is strong cooperation between countries with respect to studying agricultural nanotechnology, wherein some of the countries leading this front include India, China, Saudi Arabia, USA and UK. However, toxicity of nanoparticles, environment concerns, regulation problems, high costs associated with manufacturing and validation challenges at field level still remain significant barriers to adoption.
A. R. Aswathkumar, S. Selvanayaki, N. Deepa et al.· Plant Science Today· 0 citations
Plant biostimulants have shown significant potential as environmentally benign agricultural inputs that can improve soil health, crop yield, nutrient us efficiency and resistance to abiotic stress conditions under changing climatic conditions. With a focus on mechanisms of action, abiotic stress tolerance and economic potential, this study provides a thorough literature review and bibliometric analysis of studies on plant biostimulants in sustainable agricultural production. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to ensure a transparent and systematic selection process. The Scopus database was the only source of scientific papers that were retrieved between 2015 and 2026. To identify relevant research related to plant biostimulants, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, stress management and commercialization factors, a thorough keyword-based search method was used. About 1341 peer-reviewed journal and review papers that satisfied the inclusion criteria were chosen for in-depth analysis out of the 2593 publications that were found in the initial search. According to the bibliometric study, the most common research topics in the subject include soil health, microbial interactions, biofertilisers, abiotic stress tolerance and sustainable agriculture. Strong worldwide scientific cooperation was shown by co-authorship and bibliometric coupling analyses, especially amongst nations like China, Italy, Spain and India. The results also show that increasing plant physiological and biochemical responses under environmental stress circumstances is greatly aided by microbial inoculants, seaweed extracts, humic compounds and protein hydrolysates. Broader adoption is still delayed by issues with product standardization, field-level uniformity, regulatory frameworks and commercialisation despite significant research progress. Overall, plant biostimulants hold significant promise for promoting environmentally conscious agricultural production methods, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture.
P. Srinivasan, N. Deepa, S. Selvanayaki et al.· Plant Science Today· 0 citations
