Abstracto

Nanofertilizers for Eco-friendly environment.

Rehana Rasool, Shazia Ramzan*, Bilal Lone, Shaista Nazir, Bhinish Shakeel, Vaseem Yousuf, Sabia Akhter, Ambreen Nabi, K.A Zargar, Iram Farooq, Nadeem Mir

Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter of sizes roughly in the range of 1 to 100 nanometres. Nanoscience has brought about a revolution in different fields by helping to develop process and products that are hardly possible to evolve through conventional methods. The literature pertaining to the role of nanotechnology in plant and soil systems demonstrates that nanomaterials may assist in the formulations of nanomaterial-based pesticides and insecticides, enhancement of agricultural productivity using bio-conjugated nanoparticles (encapsulation) for slow release of nutrients and water, use of nanomaterials for preparation of different kind of biosensors, use of nano clay composite superabsorbent for higher retention of soil moisture and essential plant nutrient is effective in mitigating the drought stress tolerance in the crop. However, limited knowledge concerning nanomaterial biosafety, adverse effects, fate, and acquired biological reactivity once dispersed into the environment, requires further scientific efforts to assess possible nano-agricultural risks. In this perspective, toxicological research should be aimed to define nanomaterial hazards and levels of exposure along the life-cycle of nano-enabled products, and to assess those physico-chemical features affecting nanomaterial toxicity, possible interactions with agro-system co-formulants and stressors