Abstract
Crops require water and fertilizers to grow. However, the shortage of freshwater limits the regions where plants, especially crops, can be grown, and the misuse of chemical fertilizers imposes a burden on the environment and human health. This study develops a self-sufficient system that can passively capture water and produce plant nutrients from the air through the integration of a fog-to-water converter and a spark-type droplet-based electric generator. The proof-of-concept system, based on large-scale 3D wedged spines, achieves a fog-to-water conversion efficiency of 35% and yields nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 2.38 mg per hour per liter of water droplets. Scaling this system could boost global wheat production by approximately 1 megaton annually, even if operated for a short period each day. This approach offers a self-reliant and potentially eco-friendly solution for agriculture.