Chapter 13 - The ecology of nanomaterials in agroecosystems

Abstract

The use of agrochemicals has revolutionized agricultural production, modifying the availability of resources as nutrients, regulators, and biostimulants, modifying biotic relationships and physicochemical flows in agroecosystems. Nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials (NMs) are a new class of physicochemical agents that promise to significantly improve the production capacity of agricultural systems. In this sense, it is crucial to understand the impacts that NPs and NMs can have in the short and medium term, on the different physical, chemical, and biological components of agroecosystems: soil, water, plants, the soil microbiome, and the plant itself. The understanding should emphasize the transfer of NPs and NMs in trophic chains, as well as to soil, water, and atmosphere. This chapter presents updated knowledge about the impact of NPs and NMs of essential and beneficial elements, metals, semimetals, and nonmetals, carbon, and zeolites on the different components of the agricultural ecological system. The content emphasizes the sustainability-focused balance that should exist between the pollution and trophic transfer vs. the positive impacts on crop productivity.