Open Access

REVIEW

Nanotechnology and Plant Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Review and Future Perspectives

Sumit Sow^1,#, Alkajyoti Sharma^2,#, Mainak Ghosh^3,*, Nintu Mandal⁴, Sanjay Kumar², Shivani Ranjan^5,*, Souvik Sadhu⁶, Dibyajyoti Nath⁷, Harun Gitari⁸, Rakesh Panday⁹

1 Department of Agronomy, PGCA, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India
2 Department of Agronomy, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
3 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-VII, Umiam (Barapani), Meghalaya, India
4 School of Edaphic Stress Management, ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Malegaon, Baramati, Maharashtra, India
5 Department of Agronomy, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India
6 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
7 Department of Soil Science, PGCA, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India
8 Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
9 Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India

* Corresponding Authors: Mainak Ghosh. Email: ; Shivani Ranjan. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Application of Nanomaterials in Plants)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2026, 95(6), 2 https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.081362

Received 28 February 2026; Accepted 12 May 2026; Issue published 29 June 2026

Abstract

Increasing population pressure and growing constraints on cultivable land and water resources necessitate improving resource use efficiency through the adoption of advanced and efficient agricultural technologies. With finite resources and a growing global population, agriculture has become increasingly essential as a source of food, fiber, and livestock. Due to their eco-friendly nature, the integration of crop improvement strategies with nanotechnology and plant biostimulants (PB) plays an important role in the development of smart and sustainable agriculture. Improved agricultural techniques have the potential to transform agricultural systems, and as a result, could be a viable option to increase crop yields. The use of advanced technologies such as nanosensors and nanofertilizers derived from nanotechnology has offered promising ways to modernize the farming sector. The usage of nano products might be a reliable answer to increase crop yield to ensure food security. Due to its advantages over conventional agriculture in terms of being safer and healthier for humans, organic farming has attracted a great deal of interest from both consumers and experts. In addition, PB can boost plant resilience and optimize nutrient uptake efficiency, helping to reduce the yield gap between conventional and organic farming. This study investigates the role of nanotechnology and biostimulants in promoting sustainable agriculture and improving crop management practices at the field level. Researchers can use these to grasp the importance of nanotechnology and PB analyse future conditions, and develop strategies to maintain food and nutritional security. This review uniquely integrates nanotechnology and biostimulants within a unified mechanistic framework. We propose a conceptual framework describing how nanocarriers enhance biostimulant stability, signaling, nutrient uptake, and stress resilience, offering a new direction for nano-bioformulation design.

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