Agricultural industry is facing huge crisis due to fast changing climate, decreased soil fertility, macro and micronutrient insufficiency, misuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and heavy metal presence in soil. With exponential increase in world's population, food consumption has increased significantly. Maintaining the production to consumption ratio is a significant challenge due to shortage caused by various issues faced by agricultural industry even with the improved agricultural practices. Recent scientific evidence suggests that nanotechnology can positively impact the agriculture sector by reducing the harmful effects of farming operations on human health and nature, as well as improving food productivity and security. Farmers are combining improved agricultural practices like usage of fertilizers, pesticides etc. with nano-based materials to improve the efficiency and productivity of crops. Nano technology is also playing a significant role improving animal health products, food packaging materials, and nanosensors for detecting pathogens, toxins, and heavy metals in soil among others. The nanobased materials have improved the productivity twice with half the resources being utilized. Nanoparticles that are currently in use include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, gold, and silver used for increasing soil fertility and plant growth. Crop growth, yield, and productivity are improved by controlled release nanofertilizers. In this review we elaborate on the recent developments in the agricultural sector by the usage of nanomaterial based composites which has significantly improved the agricultural sector especially how nanoparticles play an important role in plant growth and soil fertility, in controlling plant diseases by the use of nanopesticides, nanoinsecticides, nanofertilizers, Nanoherbicides, nanobionics, nanobiosensors. The review also highlights the mechanism of migration of nanoparticles in plants and most importantly the effects of nanoparticles in causing plant and soil toxicity.
Keywords: Nanofertilizers; Nanoparticles; Nanopesticides; Plant diseases; Plant growth; Soil fertility; Soil toxicity.
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