Abstract
Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have potential application in precision farming and sustainable agriculture. Studies have shown that ENPs enhance the efficiency of the delivery of agrochemicals and thus, have the potential to positively affect the environment, thereby improving the growth and health of the crops. However, the majority of the research on the effects of ENPs on plants and in agricultural applications have been limited to controlled laboratory conditions. These conditions do not fully consider various aspects inherent to the growth of agricultural plants in fields under changing weather and climate. Some of the most investigated ENPs in the agricultural research area are ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). ZnO NPs have the potential to increase crop production and stress resistance, mainly by the slow release of Zn ions to crops. Unlike ZnO NPs, TiO2 NPs have less well-understood means of action, and are generally considered as plant growth promoter. This mini review presents information compiled for ZnO and TiO2 NPs, their influence on agricultural plants with emphasis on particularly effect on plant growth, nutrient distribution and pollution remediation under field conditions. It is concluded that in order to gain a broader perspective, more field studies are needed, particularly multigeneration studies, to fully understand the effects of the ENPs on agricultural plants’ growth and improvement of their health.
Highlights
Nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in most areas of human activity
Because of all of these factors, not many soil applications of Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) were made under field conditions, and we report only one instance of root application of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and no TiO2 NP root application
TiO2 NPs synthesised by the green method with plant extracts exhibited a significantly better effect when compared with TiO2 NPs synthesised via the sol-gel method [33]
Summary
Nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in most areas of human activity. Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have catalytic, photovoltaic, energetic, and sensory applications in diverse industries [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. In recent studies on the interaction of ENPs with plants, the application of low, yet still effective, concentrations of ZnO and TiO2 NPs was investigated [31,32], and a new avenue of research was opened, where these nanomaterials can be applied to promote growth and agricultural productivity and to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses [33,34,35]. More research on the application of ENPs in field conditions is needed to increase the knowledge about the benefits and risks of using ENPs in agriculture and to help us produce crops sustainably
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