Nanotechnology In Agriculture And Agroecosystems

Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Agroecosystems presents the latest research on the role of nanotechnology in agriculture and agroecosystems, offering innovations and many potential benefits in terms of plant growth, food production, crop protection and ecosystem management. Sections introduce new perspectives on the use of nanotechnology in agroecosystems and sustainable agriculture. Subsequent chapters focus on specific areas of innovation, covering a wide range of applications, including plant disease and protection, food processing and packaging, soil quality, precision farming, and groundwater treatment. This is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across a range of disciplines, but it is also ideal for industrial scientists, engineers and R&D professionals with an interest in nanotechnology and sustainable technologies for agriculture and agro-industries. Offers new perspectives on nanotechnology and nanoscale materials for sustainable agriculture and agroecosystems Highlights state-of-the-art techniques, such as nanotechnology-mediated gene transfer in plants Addresses challenges relating to plant disease, crop production, processing, soil and ecosystem management

Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture presents applications of nanobiotechnology for eco-friendly agriculture practices. Implementing sustainable agriculture techniques is a crucial component in meeting projected global food demands while minimising toxic waste in the environment. Nano-technological tools – including nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanotubes and nanomolecules – offer sustainable options to modernise agriculture systems. Written by nanotechnology experts, this book outlines how nano-formulations can improve yield without reliance on chemecial pesticides and reduce nutrient losses in fertilization. It reveals how nanotools are used for rapid disease diagnostics, in treating plant diseases and enhancing the capacity for plants to absorb nutrients. Features: Combines nanotechnology and agronomy presenting applications for improving plant performance and yields. Reveals nanotechnology-based products used for the soil and plant health management which mitigate climate change. Discusses roles of microbial endophytes, heavy metal nanoparticles and environment health, nano-nutrients, phytochemicals, green bioengineering and plant health. This book appeals to professionals working in the agriculture and food industry, as well as agricultural scientists and researchers in nanotechnology and agronomy.

This book highlights the implications of nanotechnology and the effects of nanoparticles on agricultural systems, their interactions with plants as well as their potential applications as fertilizers and pesticides. It also discusses how innovative, eco-friendly approaches to improve food and agricultural systems lead to increased plant productivity. Further, it offers insights into the current trends and future prospects of nanotechnology along with the benefits and risks and their impact on agricultural ecosystems. Nanomaterials in agriculture reduce the amount of chemical products sprayed by means of smart delivery of active ingredients; minimize nutrient losses in fertilization; and increase yields through optimized water and nutrient management. There is also huge potential for nanotechnology in the provision of state-of-the-art solutions for various challenges faced by agriculture and society, both today and in the future.

Large-scale chemical fertilizer application causes irreparable damage to soil structure, mineral cycles, soil microbial flora, plants, and other food chains across ecosystems, culminating in heritable mutations in future generations of consumers. A better way forward is the use of nanofertilizers to focus on macro elements (N, P, K), as switching to nanofertilizers may result in large environmental benefits by replacing the majority of these nutrients. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of nanomaterials using bacteria, algae, yeast, fungus, actinomycetes, and plants has opened up a new avenue of research in the production of inorganic nanoparticles as ecologically friendly fertilizers. Nanofertilizers should also attain increased efficiency because of a several-fold increase in the surface-to-volume ratio of nano-forms of nutrients and their suitability for foliar application, where environmental losses are further reduced. Nanostructured fertilizers can also improve nutrient use efficiency through strategies such as targeted distribution and progressive or controlled-release as they can precisely release their active molecules in response to environmental cues and biological demands. Recent research shows nanofertilizers can increase agricultural productivity by speeding up seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic activity, nitrogen metabolism, and carbohydrate and protein synthesis. The potential agricultural benefits of nanofertilizers, their modes of action, and the fate of nanomaterials in soil are all discussed in this book. It also covers nanofertilizer formulation and delivery, applications, uptake, translocation, and their fate in plants, as well as their impact on plant physiology and metabolism. Nutrient nanoformulation is a valuable method that has the potential to alter the agricultural sector and provide solutions to current and future concerns for sustainable and climate-sensitive crops

Nanomaterials for Agriculture and Forestry Applications explores how major nanomaterials are being specially used in the agriculture, forestry, and other associated sectors. Plants and their products are used for synthesis of nanoparticles as they contain primary and secondary metabolites, which reduce the metal salts and metal oxides into their nanoparticles. Exposure of these particles has been examined for their sustainable role and/or interaction with agricultural crops in terms of growth and yields. Nanomaterials accumulation and translocation have shown interaction with cellular organelles, DNA, RNA, proteins, or other biomolecules; and affect various functions of cell organelles. Application of nanosensors holds a significant promise in monitoring signaling pathways, metabolism, detection of crop/soil diseases, and specific pollutants or pesticides. Nanomaterials have also been used in soil and water quality management. In forestry sector, the nanotechnology is considered as the potential platform, which can transform the forest materials into value-added products, such as smart paper, nano-packaging, coating material, building construction, and biomedical and other sectors. This book is an important resource, showing how nanotechnology is being used to enhance large-scale agricultural and/or industrial application and production.

This book presents recent developments involving the role of nanoparticles on plant physiology and growth. Nanotechnology applications include improvement of agricultural production using bio-conjugated NPs (encapsulation), transfer of DNA in plants for development of insect pest-resistant varieties, nanoformulations of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement, and nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals. Recent findings on the increased use of nanotechnology in agriculture by densely populated countries such as China and India indicate that this technology may impart a substantial impact on reducing hunger, malnutrition, and child mortality.

This book is the second volume on this topic within the series. With unique properties, nanomaterials are rapidly finding novel applications in many fields such as food, medicine, agriculture and pollution. Such applications include to treat cancer, nanosensors to detect food contamination, nanomaterials for food packaging, nanoencapsulation to preserve nutraceuticals, and nanofertilisers for advanced agriculture. After an introductory chapter on property rights of nanomaterials, readers will discover the applications of nanotechnology in food, health, environment, ecotoxicology and agriculture.

Nanobiotechnology in agriculture is a new knowledge area that offers novel possibilities to achieve high productivity levels at manageable costs during the production and merchandising of crops. This book shows us how we can use the cutting-edge knowledge about agriculture, nanotechnology, and biotechnology to increase the agricultural productivity and shape a sustainable future in order to increase the social welfare in rural areas and preserve the environmental health. Specialists from several countries will provide their feedback on a range of relevant topics such as environment-friendly use of nanofertilisers, nanodevices, nano-food packaging, nanocoating and nanocarriers and their relationship with the modern agriculture.