Nanobubble Technology for Plant Growth Enhancement and Soil Remediation

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11270-025-08803-4

Global agricultural systems face unprecedented challenges in meeting

 rising food demand while maintaining environmental sustainability, 

with soil oxygen deficiency and contamination threatening both crop 

productivity and soil health. Nanobubble (NB) technology, featuring 

gas-filled spheres < 1 μm in diameter, has emerged as a promising 

dual-function solution for simultaneous plant growth enhancement and

 environmental remediation. This review systematically analyzes current

 knowledge on NB mechanisms in agricultural systems, identifying key

 factors governing their effectiveness in both plant growth promotion 

and soil remediation applications. We comprehensively examine NB 

stability and transport behaviors in soil matrices, remediation mechanisms 

for various contaminants, including heavy metals and organic pollutants, 

and plant growth enhancement pathways through rhizosphere oxygenation 

and nutrient transport optimization. The analysis integrates findings from

 recent studies (2018–2025) across laboratory, greenhouse, and limited 

field-scale applications. NBs demonstrate dual functionality through surface 

charge-mediated stability, enhanced mass transfer efficiency, and context-dependent

 effectiveness varying with soil properties, gas type, and application parameters. 

Plant growth improvements of 10–50% are commonly reported, as well as significant 

contaminant removal efficiencies reaching 75–98% for various pollutants. However, 

economic feasibility and long-term environmental impacts remain underexplored. 

While NB technology shows substantial promise for sustainable agricultural 

intensification, successful implementation requires standardized protocols,

 field-scale validation studies, and comprehensive economic analysis to address 

current knowledge gaps in scalability and long-term ecosystem effects. 

Overall, this review compiles scattered information on the NB application within

 agricultural practices, thereby providing new insight to guide future research efforts.

• Nanobubbles enhance agricultural productivity and soil resilience by balancing crop yield with environmental health.
• Nanobubbles may improve soil quality through mitigation of toxicity, salinity, alkalinity, and root-zone hypoxia.
• Nanobubbles conserve water and fertilizer resources by enhancing soil water retention and plant nutrient absorption.
• Nanobubbles technology promises to expand agricultural activities in suboptimal environments