Application of Nanotechnology in Agroecosystems: Nanoparticles for Improving Agricultural Production

Abstract

Growing populations and less space and water for farming make it harder to produce enough food. This forces people to come up with new, cleaner ways to increase crop yields. There are considerable concerns about food safety and quality globally as a sustainable food supply becomes more critical. Increasing the application of agrochemicals and synthetic fertilizers results in losing soil biodiversity and developing pesticide-resistant pathogens. As a result, using advanced technologies to monitor agricultural production is crucial to improving crop yields. Over the past few years, nanotechnology has opened up various possibilities for crop yield improvement and efficient food processing. Nanofibers, nanosensors, nanofertilizers, nanoherbicides and nanofungicides are examples of nanotechnology options for agricultural production systems. As nanoparticles possess specific chemical and structural characteristics, they are capable of transferring nutrients to plants, synthesizing nanopesticides and nanofungicides, and making nanosensors for detecting pesticide deficiencies. Nanotechnology applications still need to be developed. Designed to release precisely and slowly, agrochemical compounds are encapsulated in nanoparticles. This review aims to address modern agriculture's challenges related to nanotechnology, in order to develop more efficient and sustainable food production systems, and its novelty lies in evaluating nanotechnology's effectiveness by examining smart sensors, nanofertilizers for soil improvement and crop yield, controlled release of agrochemicals, improved nutrient delivery, and disease and pest management.