Exploring slow-release plasma nitrogen nano-fertilizer for improved maize production and nutrient use efficiency

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Frontiers in Plant Science

Name of Author

• Stewart Kyebogola, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
• Richard Onwonga, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
• Stella Kabiri, Sasakawa Africa Association
• Onesimus Semalulu, National Agricultural Research Organization
• Swidiq Mugerwa, National Agricultural Research Organization
• Russell Shelley Yost, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• Samuel Ikendi, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Dennis Beesigamukama, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• Julius Opio, National Agricultural Research Organization
• Godfrey Sseruwu, National Agricultural Research Organization

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

The use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in maize production is constrained by scarcity, low use efficiency, and high costs. Plasma technology presents a more environmentally friendly nitrogen source (PN). When incorporated into nanocellulose composites to control fertilizer release (NPN), they improve N supply and mitigate environmental risks, thereby optimizing benefits. However, the productivity of NPN relative to urea and its nanoform (NU) remains unexplored. Screenhouse and field experiments were conducted twice on maize using five fertilizer treatments: control, urea, PN, NU, and NPN. All treatments were applied once at 66 kg N ha^-1 and replicated four times. Maize cultivated in plots treated with nano-fertilizers showed increased plant height, chlorophyll content, and stem and leaf area. Similarly, maize yield components, including kernel row number, grains per row, and 100-seed weight, were enhanced by the application of nano-fertilizers. Compared to urea, NU and NPN increased the grain yield by 46-49% and 34-85%. Compared to PN, the increases were 8-53% and 36-37%, respectively. Nano-fertilizers boosted yield by 81-235% relative to the control. Furthermore, the Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency increased to 84% and 83% for NU and NPN, respectively, from 16-57% for urea and 10-50% for PN. The uptake affected plant utilization, causing higher Agronomical Efficiency in maize with nano-fertilizer application. The high performance of nano-fertilizers, once validated through economic and on-farm evaluations, suggests that urea and PN nanoencapsulation could enable a single application to meet all N requirements for maize production. These findings indicate that the use of nano-fertilizers can reduce nutrient loss, fertilizer requirements, and the associated environmental risks.

Keywords

climate change, fertilizer, maize, nano, nitrogen, plasma, slow-release, use efficiency

Recommended Citation

Kyebogola, S., Onwonga, R., Kabiri, S., Semalulu, O., Mugerwa, S., Yost, R., Ikendi, S., Beesigamukama, D., Opio, J., & Sseruwu, G. (2026). Exploring slow-release plasma nitrogen nano-fertilizer for improved maize production and nutrient use efficiency. Frontiers in Plant Science, 17 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1883384

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.