Recent Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials in Agroecosystems

Abstract

Nanotechnology implies the scientific research, development, and manufacture, along with processing, of materials and structures on a nano scale. Presently, the contamination of metalloids and metals in the soil has gained substantial attention. The consolidation of nanomaterials and plants in ecological management has received considerable research attention because certain nanomaterials could enhance plant seed germination and entire plant growth. Conversely, when the nanomaterial concentration is not properly controlled, toxicity will definitely develop. This paper discusses the role of nanomaterials as: (1) nano-pesticides (for improving the plant resistance against the biotic stress); and (2) nano-fertilizers (for promoting the plant growth by providing vital nutrients). This review analyzes the potential usages of nanomaterials in agroecosystem. In addition, the adverse effects of nanomaterials on soil organisms are discussed. We mostly examine the beneficial effects of nanomaterials such as nano-zerovalent iron, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, nano-hydroxyapatite, carbon nanotubes, and silver- and copper-based nanomaterials. Some nanomaterials can affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of soil organisms. A change from testing/using nanomaterials in plants for developing nanomaterials depending on agricultural requirements would be an important phase in the utilization of nanomaterials in sustainable agriculture. Conversely, the transport as well as ecological toxicity of nanomaterials should be seriously examined for guaranteeing its benign usage in agriculture.

Nanoimpact in Plants: Lessons from the Transcriptome

“…On the other side, carbonaceous and organic NPs show very low toxicity, or moreover, they might exert positive effects on plant growth or resistance to other environmental stress conditions. Nanomaterials can be made from different chemical compositions, in order to deliver faintly available nutrients and growth-promoting compounds, exhibiting beneficial rather than toxicological effects for plants [13][14][15][16].…”

“…Engineered nanomaterials represent a fast-growing market, as they have a high potential for product adoption in a variety of industries including aerospace and vehicle production, construction, chemical catalysis, or agri-food sectors [15,16,19]. Rapid developments in biomedical technology and pharmaceutical research are also expected to augment the industrial production of NPs in the years to come [20,21].…”

AC Susceptibility Studies under DC Fields in Superspinglass Nanomaghemite-Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Hybrid

“…Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are compelling materials from the fundamental and applied physical viewpoints [1][2][3][4]. Therefore, we have recently made efforts in preparing different nano-adsorbents using the co-precipitation method and inducing modifications on the nanoparticle surfaces with various inorganic and organic functional groups for potential use in heavy metals uptake from contaminated effluents [4][5][6].…”

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Improved Development during In Vitro Multiplication of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in a Semi-Automated Bioreactor

“…Nanomaterials are characterized by an ordered assembly of their atoms to form structures on a manometer scale of between 1 to 100 nm [2,3]. Some examples of carbon nanostructures include fullerene, graphene, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanotubes [4,5]. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are rolled up sheets of graphene forming a hollow cylindrical structure, and they are classified into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [6,7].…”