Chapter 12 - “Metal oxide nanoparticle” vs. “released ions”: in soil and plants

Abstract

Nanotechnology is fetching a new field of research that may revolutionize the agricultural sector with novel tools to maximize crop productivity. In recent years, the fast growth of nanotechnology has opened up new avenues for manufacturing nanomaterials with desired particle sizes and shapes for effective applications in agriculture, industry, and biomedicine. It allows us to maximize the benefits of managing these resources through efficient products in the form of nanopesticides. Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials widely used in various industries, including textiles, paints, cosmetics, medicine, and agriculture. Because of their unique characteristics, such as size, surface area, tunable physical/chemical properties, molecular, mechanical, electric, thermal, catalytic, and shape, their introduction into ecosystems poses a threat to human health and food security. The application of NPs in agriculture is explored as a key tool for increasing plant productivity, controlling numerous diseases, improving plant growth, regulating metabolic processes, and improving the nutritional content of crop species. However, massive production of nano-based goods and leaching of NPs either from industrial discharge or from nano-enabled household products into diverse environments pose their sustainability, adding a vast amount of NPs to both aquatic and terrestrial environments and other biospheres. Because of the tremendous application of NPs in commercial applications, numerous industries are developing new characteristic NPs to strengthen their products and services. Certain companies that manufacture extensive usage of NPs could expect NPs to be released into the atmosphere. NPs can contaminate natural systems through various activities, including inefficient industrial waste management and disposal of goods by the consumer.