Rice is the primary food source for more than 3.5 billion people, but growing it comes at a steep cost to the environment. Heavy reliance on nitrogen-based fertilizers makes rice farming one of the most resource-intensive forms of agriculture, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and wasted expenses. Now, scientists have identified a promising solution: nanoscale selenium.
In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Jiangnan University demonstrated that applying selenium nanoparticles directly to rice plants can slash fertilizer use while improving crop yields, nutritional value, and soil health.
“The Green Revolution massively boosted agriculture output during the middle of the last century,” says Baoshan Xing, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Soil Chemistry at UMass Amherst. “But that revolution is running out of steam. We need to figure out a way to fix it and make it work.”
Unlike conventional fertilizers, most of which plants absorb inefficiently, nano-selenium enhances the plant’s photosynthesis by more than 40%. This process helps rice roots grow stronger and release organic compounds that nourish beneficial soil microbes. As a result, nitrogen use efficiency in rice increased from 30% to 48.3%, reducing fertilizer waste and cutting harmful emissions of nitrous oxide and ammonia by up to 45.6%.
Even more striking, farmers could reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by 30%, lowering costs while improving grain quality. Protein, key amino acids, and selenium levels in rice grains all rose significantly, creating a more nutritious food supply.
The researchers conclude that nano-selenium holds immense potential for reducing agriculture’s climate footprint while helping farmers feed a rapidly growing global population more sustainably.
Tiny Mineral Breakthrough Could Transform Rice Farming and Feed Billions Sustainably
