Efficient use of nitrogen and phosphorus is crucial for achieving sustainable wheat production. Slow-release nano-fertilizers offer a targeted strategy to minimize nutrient losses, reduce excessive fertilizer application, and improve crop yield. This study introduces urea–hydroxyapatite (n-UHA) nanohybrid as a slow-release fertilizer synthesized to enhance nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) delivery efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Physical characterization techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Zetasizer, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), confirmed the formation of spherical n-UHA with a particle size of 106 nm. FTIR results indicated the formation of physically bound urea as a coating layer on the particle surface. Foliar application of n-UHA at 2500 and 5000 ppm N significantly increased tiller intensity and grain yield compared to conventional urea. The highest biological yield, approximately 16 t ha⁻¹, was achieved with 5000 ppm n-UHA plus supplemental soil phosphorus (P), representing a 4-fold increase over the control. Conventional urea treatments, in comparison, only doubled yield. Notably, increasing conventional urea concentration from 2500 to 5000 ppm N did not significantly increase the yield even with additional P-soil supplement, while applying 5000 ppm N from n-UHA with supplemental P provided an approximate 25% yield increase compared to 2500 ppm n-UHA without P. The n-UHA’s slow-release mechanism supported prolonged tiller intensity, enhanced protein content, and higher biomass yield and chlorophyll content. This study showed that the slow-release mechanism of urea in the monohybrid due to hydrolysis resulted in localized acidity from carbonic acid production on the leaf surface area and contributed to dissociating phosphate ions from hydroxyapatite, making phosphorous more accessible. The enhanced performance of n-UHA is due to its controlled nutrient release, enabled by the physical binding of urea with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. This binding ensures a synchronized supply of nitrogen and phosphorus aligned with plant demand. The nano-hydroxyapatite composite (N/Ca 6:1) supplies balanced nutrients via efficient stomatal absorption and gradual release. As an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fertilizers, n-UHA improves nitrogen delivery efficiency and reduces N-evaporation, supporting sustainable agriculture.

Background: Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) is a highly valuable tropical fruit with significant economic importance. However, conventional propagation methods struggle to meet the growing demand for planting materials. Micropropagation offers a viable solution, though its efficiency is often limited by poor rooting. This study investigates the effects of three auxins-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)-on pineapple micropropagation, aiming to optimize plant regeneration and enhance rooting efficiency. Methods: Following sterilization, axillary buds measuring approximately 1.0-1.5 cm in length were carefully excised from the crowns and cultured as explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4 mg/L benzyladenine (BAP) for shoot initiation. For root induction, microshoots were transferred to MS medium containing NAA, IAA, or IBA at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L. After four weeks, shoot length, leaf number, root number and root length were measured. Result: All auxin treatments significantly improved root and shoot development compared to the control (p less than 0.05). Indoleacetic acid (IAA) at 0.5 mg/L produced the longest roots (30.82 mm) compared to the control (10.15 mm) and other treatments, indicating its superior efficacy in promoting root development. These findings provide a practical approach to enhancing micropropagation efficiency, contributing to sustainable and scalable pineapple cultivation.