Sustainable agriculture

Agriculture has been the first source of food for living organisms since earlier period. With the continuous increase in world population, it’s becoming difficult to fulfil the stress of food by using the standard fertilizer. Except this, the use of standard fertilizers has decreased the standard of food products due to degradation in soil fertility and stability. The use of modern technologies like nanotechnology and biotechnology in agriculture sector might help in increasing productivity as well quantity of the crops grown. The formulation of nanotechnology with biotechnology is one in all the best advancement in research, thanks to its various beneficial effects achieved by the use of nano-biofertilizers in fields. Nano-biofertilizers have gained the attentionof the scientist for development of a sustainable and eco-friendly approach towards the agriculture sector, overcoming the use and effects of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers alone. With the growing demands of food and therefore loss of soil stability, the utilization of nano-biofertilizers has become the requirement of the hour. The synergistic action of both the nanoparticles and the bioorganic component has tremendously affected the growth and expansion of plants, increased soil fertility and stability and provided resistance to pathogens and pests. This review focuses on the applications and formulations of the nano-biofertilizer in agriculture sector and also promotes its use for sustainable future generations.

Thermal power plants use pulverized coal as a fuel source to generate power by obtaining fly ash as a by-product. Its generation in the country has increased from 40 Million ton (MT)/yr (1994) to about 235 MT/yr (2013). It is projected to be 325 MT/yr (2016-17), 500 MT/yr (2021-22) and 1000 MT/yr (2031-32). If it is not used, then it would demand large area of land for ash ponds and would pose a threat for air and water pollution. Fly ash utilization has increased from 1 MT/yr during 1994 to 130 MT/year during 2013, primarily as an outcome of concerted efforts under Fly Ash Mission-India. In the present study, it was shown that utilization of fly-ash as a carrier in bio-fertilizer formulations emerged as safe and effective alternatives. Use of fly-ash as a carrier in these formulations is an effective way of utilization of problematic fly-ash waste in a useful manner. Fly ash has similar physicochemical properties with soil. Fly ash addition to the soil in different doses improves photosynthetic pigments concentration beneficial for a wheat plant. We can conclude that though fly ash is a waste of concern but now has become a boon for sustainable agriculture