A laboratory study was undertaken to regulate the release of zinc (Zn) to the soil–plant system using a nano-sized manganese hollow core shell. The manganese carbonate core was used as a template to produce hollow shells like capsules, using cationic and anionic charged polymer electrolytes through electrostatic interaction. After achieving the nano-dimension hollow shell, Zn was fortified by loading zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄). The hollow core shell was characterized using a particle size analyzer, Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) before and after loading of Zn. The characterization studies clearly indicated that the hollow core shell was successfully loaded with Zn to a level of 10%, and the presence of Zn was confirmed using Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The sorption and desorption pattern of the Zn-loaded hollow core shell was examined using a percolation reactor. The results showed that the Zn-fortified core shell released Zn for more than 696 h while Zn release ceased after 408 h in ZnSO₄-fertilized soil. These data indicated that the hollow core shell can be used to regulate Zn release. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants fertilized with a Zn-fortified core shell had a higher Zn uptake of 5.66 and 3.47 mg hill⁻¹ under submerged and aerobic moisture regimes, respectively. The data suggest that the encapsulation of Zn using a manganese hollow core shell improves Zn use efficiency by rice while reducing the loss of nutrients and minimizing environmental pollution.

The laboratory research was attempted to find nano zinc fertilizer utilizing the carbon sphere as a substrate. Typically the encapsulation techniques are followed in the drug delivery system, the limited work was done in nano-based zinc micronutrient for slow release of nutrients to crop. The use efficiency of zinc micronutrients in the soil is only less than 6 percentage. In universal, the deficiency of zinc micronutrients causes malnutrition problems in human beings, especially in children. After considering this problem we planned to prepare zinc nano fertilizer by using the carbon sphere for need-based slow release and increase the use efficiency of zinc micronutrient in soil. In this study we synthesis the carbon sphere nanoparticle after the formation of carbon sphere the zinc sulphate was loaded and characterized by utilizing Scanning Electron Microscopy, Surface Area and Porosity, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy. The research result shows that the nano carbon sphere was excellently loaded with zinc sulphate to the tune of 8 percentage and it was confirmed by Energy dispersive X-beam spectroscopy. The zinc loaded carbon sphere release nutrient for a prolonged period of up to 600 h in the case of conventional zinc sulphate zinc release halted after 216 h in percolation reactor studies. The zinc nano fertilizer is recommended in agriculture to increase zinc use efficiency, crop yield without any environmental risk.

Soil salinity is a growing threat all over the world due to its toxic effect to reduce soil fertility and water uptake in the crops. An average of 418 million ha soil is saline in nature. Various climatic, geomorphic and rainfall pattern causes which involved in saline soil formation. To reduce the toxic effect proper management of saline soil is required. Irrigation water also a major concern regarding soil salinity management. Saline irrigation water enhances and maintains the severity soil salinity. Crop production aspects root zone salinity provides a strong negative impact on soil fertility. Salinity causes the reduction in nutrient ion, and water uptake has a significant negative effect on crop yields. Soil and water salinity interactions and their influence on crop growth and management of salinity are deliberated in this chapter.

A laboratory study was undertaken to determine the response of sunflower to nano-sulfur application in comparison to conventional sulfatic fertilizer. Nano-sulfur particles were characterized using a particle size analyzer, zeta potential, UV-Spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and TEM. After the complete characterization, the sulfur release pattern was studied in a percolation reactor system. Thereafter, response studies were carried out using sunflower (var. KBSH 42) crop. The stable and uniform nano-sulfur particles with a medium diameter of 35–45 nm are yielded by the aqueous precipitation method. The results showed that sulfur release from the nano-sulfur has prolonged for 42 days, while the sulfur release from the ordinary sulfur fertilizer (gypsum) ceased to exist within 35 days. Nano-sulfur fertilized plants had registered significantly higher dry matter production (11–12%), seed yield (15%), and oil content (14.7%) than gypsum fertilized plants. The data revealed that nano-sulfur assists in improving the available sulfur in soils.

Fungi are a group of eukaryotic organisms and source of food, organic acids, alcohol, antibiotics, growth-promoting substances, enzymes, and amino acids. They include microorganisms like molds, yeasts, and mushrooms. They live on dead or living plants or animals’ tissue. Fungi are very different from other living organisms; they are the primary decomposers of substances in the ecological system. Fungi are tremendous decomposer of organic waste material and most readily attack cellulose, lignins, gums, and other organic complex substances. Fungi can act also under a wide range of soil reaction from acidic to alkaline soil reactions. Fungi conjointly play a basic role in different physiological processes as well as mineral and water uptake, chemical change, stomatal movement, and biosynthesis of compounds termed biostimulants, auxins, lignan, and ethylene to enhance the flexibility of plants to ascertain and cope environmental stresses like drought, salinity, heat, cold, and significant metals.