Bioinoculants With Nano Compounds To Improve Soil Health A Step Toward Sustainable Agriculture

In recent decades, agrochemicals have enhanced crop productivity to meet increasing global food requirements. However, prolonged and extensive use of agrochemicals has resulted in contamination that persists in the soil system which can be biomagnified in the food chain. Furthermore, toxic chemicals adversely affect important soil microbial biota, the key drivers of biogeochemical cycles. This concern has raised the need to develop environmentally friendly and cost-effective nano- and micro-biotechnology strategies to minimize the adverse impact of agrochemicals and pesticide residues on soil microbiota, soil fertility, and their biomagnification in food crops. Nano-bioinoculants - the combination of nano-compounds and bioinoculants - have been increasingly used as soil amendments. They can improve agri-potential and soil health by maintaining soil physico- and biological properties, microbial diversity, and the nutrient-solubilizing microbial population. They also aid in improving crop yields and reducing agrochemical and pesticide residues. Nano-bioinoculants are more efficient than other methods for removing contaminants due to their small size, high reactivity, and catalytic activities. Several types of nano-compounds (chitosan, zeolite, gypsum, and silicon dioxide) have been used in conjunction with beneficial microbes (bacteria fungi, actinomycetes & endophytic bacteria) as nano-bioinoculants.

"This new volume explores the important and cutting-edge roles that nanotechnology can play in facilitating sustainable agriculture. It provides recent updates on nanobiotechnology in soil science, plant breeding, food science, agricultural tool design and utilization, as well as the impacts of such approaches on properties of soils and plants and other environmental factors. The volume looks at the many roles of nanotechnology as a state-of-the art tool in sustainable agriculture, such as for crop production and protection, in the creation and application of nano-pesticides, to enhance soil fertility and soil health for improved plant growth, as plant protective agents against pathogenic microbes and pests, as a mitigating factor of plant abiotic stress, and more. It also discusses the behavior of nanomaterials in soil and interaction with soil biota. The volume goes on to explore emerging nanotechnological tools and techniques for crop improvement, which include space-inspired speed breeding for crop improvement, nanoparticles as sensing materials, plant nanobionics, nanopore DNA sequencing, and more. Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture: An Innovative and Eco-Friendly Approach will be an important resource on sustainable agriculture and crop improvement with the help of the recent and emerging tools of nanotechnology"--

Agriculture is considered as a backbone of developing nations as it caters the needs of the people, directly or indirectly. The global agriculture currently faces enormous challenges like land degradation and reduced soil fertility, shrinking of land, low production yield, water accessibility and a dearth of labor due to evacuation of individuals from farming. Besides, the global population increases at an exponential rate and it is predicted that the global population will be 9 billion by 2050 that in turn leads to food crisis in near future. Although, green revolution revolutionizes the agriculture sector by enhancing the yield but it was not considered as a sustainable approach. Exorbitant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to boost the crop yield is definitely not a convenient approach for agriculture sustainability in the light of the fact that these chemical fertilizers are considered as double-edged sword, which on one hand enhance the crop yield but at the same time possess deleterious effect on the soil microflora and thus declines its fertility. Besides, it cause irreversible damage to the soil texture and disrupts the equilibrium in the food chain across ecosystem, which might in turn lead to genetic mutations in future generations of consumers. Thus, the increased dependence on fabricated agricultural additives during and post green revolution has generated serious issues pertaining to sustainability, environmental impact and health hazards. Therefore, nano-biotechnology has emerged as a promising tool to tackle the above problems especially in the agriculture sector. Nano-agribusiness is an emerged field to enhance crop yield, rejuvenate soil health, provide precision farming and stimulate plant growth. Nano-biotechnology is an essential tool in modern agriculture and is considered as a primary economic driver in near future. It is evaluated that joining of cutting edge nanotechnology in agribusiness would push the worldwide monetary development to approximately US$ 3.4 trillion by 2020 which clearly indicates that how agri-nanobiotechnology plays a pivotal role in the agricultural sector, without any negative impact on the environment and other regulatory issues of biosafety. Agri-nanobiotechnology is an innovative green technology, which provides the solution to global food security, sustainability and climate change. The current book is presenting the role of nano-biotechnology in modern agriculture and how it plays a pivotal role to boost the agri-business.

The sole aim of present mechanized and advanced agricultural practices is to produce enhanced grain yield to satiate the hunger of burgeoning population.

The emergence of nanotechnology and the development of new nano-devices and nanomaterials open up opportunities for novel applications in agriculture and biotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential to modernize the agricultural research and practice. Nanotechnology has gained momentum in agriculture sector during last decade, but still there are knowledge gap between scientific communities. This book comprise of holistic coverage about current developments in nanotechnology based sustainable agriculture. It contains sections focusing on each aspect of the implications of nanotechnology in different sectors of agriculture from crop production, soil fertility management, crop improvement etc. It also provides insight into the current trends and future prospects of nanotechnology along with the benefits and risks and their impact on agricultural ecosystems. This book emphasize on use of nanotechnology to reduce agrochemical usage via smart delivery system, increase nutrient use efficiency, improved water and nutrient management, nano-biosensors for management of plant diseases etc. The book provides thorough knowledge for dealing with current challenges of agricultural sector using nanotechnology based agricultural interventions. It will serve as reference literature for scientists, policymakers, students and researchers who are engaged in development of strategies to cope up with challenges of current agricultural systems and society.

The challenges posed by climate change have had a significant impact on global food security, with crop yields negatively affected by abiotic and biotic stresses. The book Nanopriming Approach to Sustainable Agriculture offers a promising solution to this problem, providing a sustainable technology that ensures the growth and development of healthy plants in adverse conditions. By using nanoparticles to enhance seed germination and growth, nanopriming establishes pre-resistance against diseases and stresses, thereby reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers. This reduction in the use of harmful chemicals not only benefits the environment but also helps increase the income of farmers worldwide. This edited book offers a comprehensive overview of the latest research and development in nanotechnology for agriculture, covering topics such as crop production, protection, soil fertility improvement, and crop improvement. With each chapter focusing on a specific topic, the book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and professors seeking to stay up to date with the latest advances in nanotechnology. The book is especially relevant for those interested in precision farming, and it highlights the potential of nanopriming as an effective tool for sustainable agriculture. Topics covered include seed priming with zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles, myco-synthesized nanoparticles as seed priming agents, and nanopriming for alleviating heavy metal toxicity in plants. Co-edited by leading researchers in the field, this book is designed to be a valuable asset for university courses and provides updated knowledge and applications in agriculture sciences. Overall, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the latest research in nanotechnology for agriculture and its potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture practices worldwide.