Understanding Nanoparticles in Fertilizer Technology

The word “nanoparticle” has a bit of a buzzwordy ring to it. In the context of a liquid fertilizer product, the word simply describes the size of a nutrient particle.

Defining Nanoparticles

By definition, nanoparticles are particles between one and 100 nanometers in size. To put that into perspective, a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. When a material like ferrous sulfate, which normally measures around 70,000 nanometers, is completely dissolved in water, it breaks down to the size of the nutrient ion itself (iron), which is about 0.122 nanometers in size.

Mixing It Up

Before going further, it’s important to keep the three main mixture types in mind when discussing particle size.

1. Solutions are homogeneous mixtures, in which nutrients are entirely dissolved and present at the molecular level (such as in the ferrous sulfate example).
2. Colloidal dispersions are somewhat similar to solutions but are non-homogeneous. Nutrients are suspended throughout the mixture as opposed to being fully dissolved; milk is a good non-fertilizer example of this.
3. Suspensions contain even larger particles than dispersions, often over 1,000 nanometers in size, which can settle out over time and lead to issues like clogged nozzles and uneven applications.

Form and Function

The smaller the particle, the better. Solutions are the most effective out of the three because the nutrients in a solution are inherently nanoparticle-sized. The key benefits of solutions are:

• Better product integrity: Smaller particles are less likely to settle out over time than larger ones, resulting in better flow and fewer nozzle issues.
• Enhanced plant availability: When nutrients are reduced to nanoparticle size, they’re more readily available to enter the plant.
• Improved tank-mix compatibility: Solutions with smaller particle sizes resist locking up and tying up with other products in tank mixes.
• More efficient nutrient delivery: When nutrients are in a solution, they can enter the plant through foliar or soil pathways more effectively, due to their size.

To recap, a nanometer is a unit of measurement, and nanoparticles are found in solutions. Keep this in mind if you see “nanoparticles” touted in grandiose marketing language. There are no special formulation techniques required to create nanoparticles; they’re simply a sign of a good solution.

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