Abstract In a time where global agricultural stability is facing unprecedented challenges due to growing population, climate change, and emerging pandemics, the development of advanced organic-inorganic functional nanohybrids as advanced fertilizers could contribute significantly to meeting these challenges. They hold the potential of reducing overall fertilizer used per kilogram of produce while simultaneously increasing the yield per hectare. Even though there are many reports of recent nanofertilizer innovations, work on overcoming constraints of large-scale economic manufacture and sustainability has been limited. Herein, we report advanced urea-hydroxyapatite nanohybrids with a rare hydroxyapatite morphology as a more economical, scalable, biocompatible, and sustainable next-generation nitrogen fertilizer compared to the previously reported. A full life cycle assessment including components from synthesis, structure-property relationships, nutrient release behavior, bioefficacy, biocompatibility, and industrial scaling-up are included in this study. Coral-shaped urea-hydroxyapatite nanohybrids were synthesized via an energy-efficient, greener, one-pot bottom-up mechanochemical approach leading to a nitrogen loading up to ~ 43 %. Intermolecular interactions between the hydroxyapatite nanocorals and urea molecules have afforded slow and precise nitrogen release properties to these nanohybrids resulting in the cessation of immature loss of urea to the environment. The improved nitrogen utilization efficiency of the nanohybrids was demonstrated by the ~69 % increase in crop yields and improved plant growth of rice compared to standard nitrogen application in pot trials. Urea-hydroxyapatite nano-corals have significant potential in enhancing sustainable agriculture by acting as an efficient, economical, slow-release nitrogen fertilizer leading to the fulfillment of multiple United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
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