Carbon Nanomaterials in Agriculture

Abstract

Discovery of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene in the short period of time and their unique properties led the boom in the applications of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) on large scale in various industries. Potential applications of these materials in engineering, medical, environmental, and agricultural areas have attracted great interest these days. CNMs like carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, carbon nanoparticles, and carbon nanohorns among others have great application potential in agriculture. The current focus of agriculture research is a sustainable increase in crop production and protection, and CNMs can be very useful in achieving the goals. However, use of these materials also associated with their impact on the environment and other living organisms. Existing literature reveals mixed effects from CNM exposure on plants, ranging from enhanced crop yield to acute cytotoxicity and genetic alteration. This chapter describes the different types of CNMs and their use in different agricultural applications. The objective is to evaluate the current literature, including studies with both positive and negative effects of different CNMs on crop plants and associated organisms.