Processing and Characterization of Nano Hydroxyapatite from Bio wastes as a Fertilizer for Wheat and Soybean

Abstract

Plants require many nutrients and minerals to survive, which are either supplied from the soil or by fertilizer. Phosphorus is one of these minerals, which helps plants to form a set of buds and fruiting. The use of conventional phosphate fertilizers causes environmental pollution due to over-fertilization. Because of its large size, the plant cannot absorb all the amount of fertilizer and remains part of it in the soil has not been absorbed and less diffused. If too much phosphate fertilizer is used on the soil, excess phosphorus can easily find its way into water networks through storm and plumbing drains. Herbs and plant leaves grown in the soil with excess phosphorus will release phosphorus into the water, leading to outbreaks of algae, bacteria and water pollution, and resulting in poor soil and plant quality. For these explained reasons, many researchers found the importance of nano-hydroxyapatite as a potential fertilizer in improving the efficiency of phosphorus based on the hypothesis that nano-sized particles can potentially move in the soil and reach the plant roots through the mass flow of soil water to roots created by transpiration. So the usage of nano-phosphorus fertilizer can be a beneficial and safe way to improve soil fertility without causing any environmental pollution. Hydroxyapatite [HAp, Ca10 (PO4)6(OH)2] is one of the widely used bio-ceramics in different fields especially in medical and agricultural applications. Hydroxyapatite can be naturally prepared from biological wastes such as fish bones, bovine bones, coral reefs and egg shells, not only from the economical point of view but also as a friend of the environment.