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

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 neg- ative 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.