Browsing by Author "Massawe, Kunda"

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    Potential application of nanotechnology in formulating biofertilizers as a sustainable way for promoting plant growth: a systematic review
    (Frontiers, 2025-08-22) Massawe, Kunda; Mbega, Ernest; Meya, Akida
    Introduction: Nanoparticles and Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes are trending as sustainable means for supplying plant nutrients. The purpose of this review was to understand how these technologies have been applied together to enhance plant growth.Methods: A PRISMA protocol was followed to explore relevant articles that reported the impact of nanoparticles on plant growth-promoting microbes or their influence on plant growth. By using the established search string, 70 original research articles published between 2000 and 2023 from Google Scholar and Scopus were obtained.Results: The results show that 21 microbe genera with more than 50 species can promote plant growth. Free-living plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are the most studied microbes, followed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Inorganic nanoparticles, such as ZnO, are the most extensively studied nanoparticles, followed by organic nanoparticles, primarily chitosan.Discussion: Nanoparticles and plant growth-promoting microbes can be applied as separate treatments or by formulating nano-biofertilizer, and their combination ameliorates biotic and abiotic plant growth stresses. The effect of nanoparticles on plant growth-promoting microbes is concentration and species-dependent.