NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP: NANO-ENABLED HYBRID PHOSPHORUS PLATFORMS FOR INCREASING PHOSPHORUS USE EFFICIENCY

The long-term overarching goal of the proposed project is to facilitate the use of nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture through nutrient delivery to plants, particularly phosphorus (P), thereby improving nutrient uptake and use efficiency in agriculture. The immediate project goals are to develop novel nanotechnology-based fertilizers for effective and sustainable Pdelivery to agricultural crops. The reduction of P loss in soil and the enhancement of P uptake by plants will be achieved. This research will improve the understanding of the science and application of nanotechnology in the design of novel nanotechnology-enabled P fertilizers as it relates to plant nutrient use efficiency and reduced negative footprint of chemical fertilizers.