Jul 2026· International journal of business management· Vol 5, pp. 209-220· 0 citations· 21 references
Abstract
Fertilizers play a central role in sustaining agricultural productivity and food security in India, yet the environmental and economic tradeoffs across fertilizer types remain a pressing policy concern. This study compares chemical, organic, and biofertilizers used in Indian agriculture with respect to nutrient composition, cost efficiency, yield performance, and environmental impact, drawing on secondary data from government reports, research journals, and agricultural institutions. The analysis shows that chemical fertilizers such as urea, DAP, and NPK deliver rapid nutrient availability and higher short term yields in crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables, but their sustained use is linked to soil degradation, water pollution, carbon emissions, and biodiversity loss. Organic fertilizers, including compost, farmyard manure, and vermicompost, enhance soil structure, water retention, and long term fertility, though nutrient release is slower and initial yield gains are modest. Biofertilizers, based on microorganisms such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum, improve nutrient availability at low cost with minimal ecological damage, but face storage and shelf life constraints. Fertilizer consumption data from 2013 to 2025 indicate that chemical fertilizers continue to dominate the Indian market, accounting for roughly 83 percent of market share, even as awareness of organic and biofertilizer alternatives grows. The comparative evidence suggests that integrated nutrient management, combining all three fertilizer types, yields better productivity and soil sustainability outcomes than reliance on any single type. The study concludes that balanced and integrated fertilizer policy is essential for achieving productivity growth alongside environmental protection and long term soil health in India.
Vermicompost is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, offering a wide range of agronomic and ecological benefits. This review synthesizes current knowledge on vermicompost’s role in enhancing soil fertility, improving crop yield and quality, suppressing plant diseases and pests, and contributing to organic waste recycling. Specifically, vermicompost improves soil structure, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, while acting as a biofertilizer and natural pest regulator through mechanisms such as induced systemic resistance and microbial antagonism. Field studies across various crops-including garlic, tomato, green gram, and maize demonstrate significant improvements in yield and nutritional content. Additionally, research conducted in Ethiopia highlights the potential of locally sourced vermicompost formulations and their integration with inorganic fertilizers for sustainable crop production. Overall, these findings affirm vermicompost’s value in organic agriculture and its contribution to soil health, environmental protection, and long-term ecosystem balance.
Mosissa Fekadu· Greener Journal of Soil Scie...· 0 citations
Rice-based agroecosystems in Bangladesh face mounting challenges from nutrient imbalance, declining soil organic matter, climate-related stress and inefficient fertilizer management. While intensive fertilizer use has raised productivity, it has also reduced nutrient use efficiency and degraded soil quality. Nanofertilizers and organic soil amendments have emerged as complementary strategies to improve nutrient management and soil health in rice systems. This review synthesizes 85 peer-reviewed field, pot and laboratory studies (2005-2025) from Bangladesh and comparable South Asian agroecosystems, evaluating the individual and combined effects of nanofertilizers and soil amendments (biochar, compost, green manure, lime) on rice productivity, soil properties, nutrient dynamics and environmental outcomes. Nanofertilizers improve nutrient use efficiency through controlled release, while amendments enhance soil organic carbon, microbial activity and nutrient retention. Combined application produces synergistic gains, with yield improvements of approximately 25-40% reported under specific experimental conditions. These integrated strategies reduce nutrient losses, strengthen soil function and support more efficient, climate-resilient rice production aligned with SDGs 2, 6, 13 and 15. Most available evidence, however, derives from short-term field and pot trials; long-term, multi-location studies are needed to evaluate nanoparticle fate, environmental safety, economic feasibility and farmer adoption under diverse rice-growing conditions before large-scale deployment.
Ishrat Alam, Khalid Syfullah, Bijoya Saha et al.· Agricultural Science Digest...· 0 citations
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but its use efficiency (UNE) is often limited by losses due to leaching, NH volatilization, and denitrification, impacting both productivity and the environment. Factors such as fertilizer type, soil characteristics, climate, and crop directly influence UUE, with sandy tropical soils being particularly susceptible to N losses. Biochar derived from organic waste has proven
effective in mitigating these losses, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing pH, moisture retention, porosity, and microbial activity, favoring greater N absorption by plants. This review summarizes recent evidence on the role of biochar in improving ENU, reducing N losses, and enabling innovative fertilizer formulations. Studies indicate that biochar modified or used as a coating for urea, as well as organomineral fertilizers, promotes the gradual release of N, increases macroaggregate stability, reduces leaching and gaseous
emissions, and increases productivity. In addition, innovative formulations incorporating lauric acid or Hermetia illucens by-products increase the multifunctionality of biofertilizers and contribute to circular economy practices. These strategies link nutrient management to waste valorization, contributing to more sustainable fertilization approaches.
Allana Kedry Mattos Marques, Dirlane de Fátima do Carmo, M. Vezzone et al.· Proceedings of the XI Worksh...· 0 citations
The choice between organic and inorganic amendment strategies for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production has profound implications for soil health, crop productivity, fruit quality, environmental sustainability, and smallholder livelihoods in tropical agro-ecological regions. This review provides a systematic comparative analysis of organic amendmentssuch as compost, vermicompost, biochar, green manures, microbial inoculants, and inorganic fertilizers (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compounds, micronutrient fertilizers) across dimensions of yield response, soil physicochemical improvement, economic feasibility, and long-term soil health trajectories. Evidence from peer-reviewed field studies (2018–2025) consistently demonstrates that organic amendments match or exceed inorganic fertilizer yield outcomes over multi-season timeframes while generating substantial co-benefits for soil organic carbon, microbial diversity, water retention, and disease suppression that mineral fertilizers do not provide. Integrated strategies combining organic and reduced-rate inorganic inputs achieve the greatest short-term yields while progressively improving soil health. Nigerian evidence on organic pest management with neem extract and Path-Away® organic formulations demonstrates that organic principles extend beyond soil fertility management to encompass full agronomic systems in which synthetic chemical inputs are minimized. This review proposes criteria for evidence-based selection between organic, inorganic, and integrated amendment strategies in tropical tomato systems.
Adesakin, O. R., Adeboye, S. E., B. A. Gonimi et al.· RA Journal Of Applied Resear...· 0 citations
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly challenged by soil degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change, necessitating the pragmatic and eco-friendly approach. This review systematically synthesizes the role of biochar as multifunctional soil management strategy in enhancing soil health and sustainable environmental management, with particular emphasis on the critical roles of feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions in governing biochar performance. To address existing knowledge gaps, we comprehensively evaluate recent available literature on biochar-based environmental remediation, focusing on key indicators of agricultural sustainability, including nutrients availability, soil biological activity, climate change mitigation, biochar-assisted phytostabilization, and crop productivity. Current evidence indicates that biochar application can achieve a net negative carbon footprint, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal contamination, and improve soil structure, fertility, and overall crop productivity on sustainable-basis. However, these benefits largely depend upon the various important biochar production factors including feedstock source, pyrolysis temperature, biochar stability, residence time, rate of application, and soil pH. Beyond its function as a soil amendment, biochar also serves as a multifunctional resource contributing to bioenergy production, waste reduction, and long-term carbon sequestration. At the same time, this review identifies critical research gaps, including the long-term field performance of biochar, mechanisms underlying the interactions between biochar and agronomic practices, and the environmental and human health risks associated with large-scale agricultural applications. Overall, this work highlights the importance of feedstock selection and pyrolysis parameters in designing biochar for environmental remediation and outlines future research directions to refine biochar engineering, application guidelines, and risk assessment frameworks for its sustainable use.
Ismail Khan, Faming Wang, Abdul Rehman et al.· International journal of phy...· 0 citations
In order to ensure that the objective of feeding the ever-growing world population is fulfilled, crop production must be efficient and sustainable. It is important that crops preserve the soil quality and protect the environment. INM (Integrated Nutrient Management) is an interesting approach, which involves the use of chemical fertilizers, organic manure, and nanotechnology. For example, the combination of chemical fertilizers with the organic fertilizers like farmyard manure, compost, and green manure leads to better soil conditions, improves microbial activities, and helps to retain water and nutrients. Also, they help to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon. The application of nano-fertilizers can be viewed as the most recent innovation in agriculture nutrient management due to its capacity to provide nutrients effectively and efficiently. Due to the smaller particle sizes, larger surface area, and higher nutrient uptake, nano-fertilizers allow plants to absorb nutrients more easily. As a result, there will be a decrease in the loss of nutrients due to leaching, volatilization, and runoff. However, their large-scale adoption is constrained by challenges such as high production costs, limited field-scale validation, regulatory uncertainties, and concerns regarding the long-term environmental and ecological impacts of nanomaterials. The integration of organic and nano-based inputs within an INM framework provides a balanced and efficient nutrient supply that addresses current crop nutritional requirements while supporting the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. Future research should focus on developing cost-effective nano-fertilizers, establishing standardized regulatory frameworks, and conducting long-term field studies to ensure their safe, practical, and sustainable adoption in modern agriculture.
Rajanikant, Naveen Kumar, Dileep Kumar Pandey et al.· Journal of Soil Future Resea...· 0 citations