Nanomaterials, e.g. zeolites and nano-clays, for water or liquid agrochemicals retention in the soil for their slow release to the plants
Example : Soil-enhancer product, based on a nano-clay component, for water retention and release (Geohumus-Frankfurt, DE)
The Application of Nanotechnology for Micronutrients in Soil-Plant Systems (VFRC Report 2015/3):The application of nanotechnology in agriculture is nascent. However, NMs (Nanomaterials) and NPs(NanopartiNPs(Nanoparticles) can provide the basis of constructs and macroassemblies for developing new tools and technological platforms for the study and transformation of MNs in soil-plant systems. As stated earlier, NMs and NPs may become part of intelligent technological systems to efficiently apply production inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides for specific temporal and spatial scales. Accordingly, the main aim of this section is to provide information on the potential effects and interactions of NMs and NPs in soil and plants and provide insights on how NMs, NPs and nanotechnology may be used to enhance the amounts of nutritious food, while reducing the environmental footprint of MN fertilization practices associated with crop production
Micronutrient supply: It’s a well-established fact that micronutrients like manganese, copper, boron, iron, molybdenum, zinc etc. are important for the growth and development. A substantial increase of crop yields with the green revolution and new farming practices has progressively decreased the micronutrients of soil like zinc, iron and molybdenum [77]. Foliar application of micronutrients can enhance uptake by the leaves [78]. Nanotechnology can be used to make the availability of micronutrients to plants. Nano formulations of micronutrients can be sprayed on plants or can be supplied to soil for uptake by roots to enhance soil health and vigor [79]. The release of behavior of 1-naphthylacetic acid (an important plant growth hormone) from chitosan nanoparticles has been tested at different pH’s and temperature. The formulation was found to have potential for the slow release of agrochemicals such as hormones [80]. Different nanoparticles have been tested to provide appropriate level of micronutrients in plants. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454086/ 3.2 for data
However, small sized nanoparticles may cause phytotoxicity even at lower concentration owing to its easy uptake by the plants and their further translocation inside plant system
However, on other side, phytotoxicity of nanoparticles is largely regulated by their size, concentration and plant growth system. Here, the important point is to mitigate these risk assessment factors for alleviating the subsequent toxicity of nanoparticles.
Soil Stability: Random molecular movements are of higher significance at the nanoscale. Soils that contain nanoparticles with intraparticle voids usually exhibit higher liquid and plastic limits because of the following three reasons: (a) a higher specific surface leads to a larger amount of water encompassing the outer surface of particles; (b) the presence of nanopores causes water accumulation in these pores, hence resulting in an increase of the available water capacity in soil; (c) the nanostructure of soil particles is another factor for the increase in water accumulation capacity. The existence of nanofibers in soil usually enhances the thixotropic property of soil and increases its shear strength A Review of Stabilization of Soils by using Nanomaterials (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249964262_A_Review_of_Stabilization_of_Soils_by_using_Nanomaterials [accessed Sep 5, 2017].
The existence of even a minute amount of these nanoparticles can result in extraordinary effects on the engineering properties soil
How Nanotubes can monitor environmental conditions:
Nanosensors can be used for determination of microbes, contaminants, pollutants and food freshness
nanosensor can be defined as an extremely small device than can bind to whatever is wanted to be detected and send back a signal.
Nanosensors for monitoring soil conditions (e.g. moisture, soil pH), a wide variety of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides, pathogens and crop growth as wel
Nanosensors for detection of food-borne contaminants or for monitoring environmental conditions at the farm
Nanosensors and nano- based smart delivery systems for efficient use of agricultural natural resources (e.g. water), nutrients and chemicals through precision farming
Nanoparticles to deliver growth hormones or DNA to plants in controlled manner
Aptasensors for determination of pesticides and insecticides (e.g. phorate, acetamiprid, isocarbophosmart nanosensors for early warning of changing conditions that are able to respond to different conditions
Aptasensors for determination of heavy metals (e.g. Hg2+, As3+, Cu2+)
Nanoparticles used as smart nanosensors for early warning of changing conditions that are able to respond to different conditions
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. Over the years, new discoveries have led to new applications, often taking advantage of their unique electrical properties, extraordinary strength and efficiency in heat conduction
CO2 sources and sinks are still not well understood and therefore more monitoring instruments are needed to quantify the CO2 dynamics and help to predict climate change . Since the past decade, there has been significant increase in the applications using multi-sensor array to detect and quantify gases in the atmosphere.
In order to visualise how nanotubes are built up, we start with graphite, which is the most stable form of crystalline carbon. As shown in Figure 1(a) [15], graphite consists of layers of carbon atoms. Within the layers, the atoms are arranged at the corners of hexagons which fill the whole plane.
CNT gas sensors can offer important advantages over metal oxides and conducting polymer sensors in terms of higher sensitivity, small sizes for miniaturised sensors, fabrication of massive nanosensor arrays, lower power consumption for wireless
Recently, nanosized lignocellulosic materials have been obtained from crops and trees which had opened a new market for innovative and value-added nano-sized materials and products, e.g. nano-sized cellulosic crystals have been used as lightweight reinforcement in polymeric matrix [8, 9].
These can be applied in food and other packaging, construction, and transportation vehicle body structures.
Cellulosic nano-whisker production technology from wheat straw has been developed by Michigan Biotechnology Incorporate (MBI) International, and is expected to make biocomposites that could substitute for fiberglass and plastics in many applications, including automotive parts [10]. For the commercialization of this technology, North Dakota State University (NDSU) is currently engaged in a project.
It has long been known that plants are able to reduce metal ions both on their surface and in various organs and tissues remote from the ion penetration site. In this regard, plants (especially those which have very strong metal ion hyperaccumulating and reductive capacity) have been used for extracting precious metals from land which would be economically unjustifiable to mine; an approach known as phytomining.
The metals accumulated by the plants can be recovered after harvesting via sintering and smelting methods. Interestingly, study of the metal bioaccumulation process in plants has revealed that metals are usually deposited in the form of nanoparticles.
For example, Brassica juncea (mustard greens) and Medicago sativa (alfalfa) accumulate 50 nm silver nanoparticles to a high level (13.6% of their own weight) when grown on silver nitrate as a substrate [22]. In addition, gold icosahedra of 4 nm in size were detected in M. sativa [23], and semi-spherical copper particles with a size of 2 nm were observed in Iris pseudacorus (yellow iris) [24] grown on substrates containing salts of the respective metals. Whole plants can obviously be used to produce metal nanoparticles.
Using FTIR spectroscopy of nanoparticles synthesized in plants/plant extracts, it has been demonstrated that terpenoids are often associated with nanoparticles. Terpenoids are a class of diverse organic polymers synthesized in plants from five-carbon isoprene units, which display strong antioxidant activity. Shankar et al. [29] initially suggested that terpenoids play a key role in the transformation of silver ions into nanoparticles in reactions using extracts from geranium leaves. Eugenol, the main terpenoid of Cinnamomum zeylanisum (cinnamon) extracts, was found to play the principal role in the bioreduction of HAuCl4 and AgNO3 to nanoparticles [36]. Based on the FTIR spectroscopy data, it was suggested [36] that dissociation of a proton of the eugenol OH-group results in the formation of resonance structures capable of further oxidation. This process is accompanied by the active reduction of metal ions, followed by nanoparticle formation.
Nanofibres from wheat straw and soy hulls for bio-nanocomposite production (Canadian Universities and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, CA)
Chloroplasts are the food machine of the plant. Present in the leaf this is where photosynthesis takes place.Chloroplasts can even now play out these responses when expelled from plants, yet following a couple of hours, they begin to separate since light and oxygen harm the photosynthetic proteins. Normally plants can totally repair this sort of harm, yet extricated chloroplasts can't do it all alone.With carbon Nanotubes seeming to go about as a "Prosthetic Photoabsorber," photosynthetic action — measured by the rate of electron move through the Thylakoid layers .
These sensors can work on the automatic deploying of fertilizers. Pesticides and insecticides can be injected when their concentrations are low...detected by these sensors. These sensors work in the following ways:
Due to the little size of nanotubes, nanowires, or nanoparticles, a couple of gas particles are adequate to change the electrical properties of the detecting components. This permits the identification of a low grouping of compound vapors. The objective is to have little, modest sensors that can sniff out chemicals similarly as puppies are utilized as a part of airplane terminals to notice the vapors radiated by explosives or medications.
The capacity of creating little, reasonable sensors that can rapidly recognize a synthetic vapor gives a sort of nano-hound dog that needn't bother with rest or exercise which can be helpful in various ways. An undeniable application is to mount these sensors all through an airplane terminal, or any office with security worries, to confirm for vapors given by unstable gadgets.
These sensors can likewise be helpful in modern plants that utilization chemicals in assembling to recognize the arrival of compound vapors. At the point when hydrogen energy components come into utilization, in autos or different applications, a sensor that identifies got away hydrogen could be extremely helpful in notice of a break. This innovation ought to likewise make conceivable modest systems of air quality observing stations to enhance the following of a contamination.
One of the boosters in this system are carbon nanotubes. Both single and double layered nanotubes are able to be used as sensors for carbon nanotubes can act as sensors for proteins and DNA. The single layered sensors are able to to have different orientations and thus depending on this they are able to exhibit various properties. This allows us to grow CNTs in different situations and then control the later on. synchrotron X-radiation and nuclear resonance have revealed atomic structures of complex molecules. Various nanotube-based gas sensors have been depicted in the previous couple of years. Scientists have built up a scaled down gas ionization locator in view of CNTs . The sensor could be utilized for gas chromatography. Titania nanotube hydrogen sensors have been joined in a remote sensor system to distinguish hydrogen fixations in the air. Furthermore, researchers have built up a concoction sensor for vaporous particles, for example, NO2 and NH3 that depends on nanotube atomic wires .Other than this, these sensors are able to detect pollutants and infections allowing us to prepare in advance. Bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella can be detected by these sensors which can lead to substantial advances in health care and disease prevention. Researchers at Fu Jen Catholic university used the following method to detect these bacteria respectively; For E.Coli in milk an expendable Immunosensing strip containing twofold antibodies for aberrant sandwich catalyst connected Immunoassay was manufactured by connecting 13-nm GNPs onto screen-printed carbon
terminals (SPCEs) . The cathode was combined with the in the first place E. coli O157:H7-particular immunizer, E. coli O157:H7 in place cells and the second E. coli O157:H7-particular counter acting agent conjugatwith horseradish. The hydrogen peroxide and ferrocenedicarboxylic
corrosive were utilized as a substrate and o between, separately.
These sensors open up an enigma of knowledge and progress. The future holds great promise if we go at our pace. The Golden Age of humanity is not far away.Nanotechnology is a generally youthful train contrasted with traditional building, and it is inalienably interdisciplinary. It appears that in many fields we are in reality quite recently starting to wander into these new measurements. Difficulties remain, be that as it may, in all parts of nanotechnology. We have to enhance imaging execution by empowering speediercope of bigger surfaces, in the end down to the sub-atomic scale. We likewise need to culminate nanopatterning techniques to enhance determination, overlay and throughput abilities. Future nanomanufacturing will in all probability depend on blends of best down building and base up self-get together. To wrap things up, we have to discover routes for the common combination of various length-scale gadgets (nano/miniaturized scale/full scale) with the goal that we can program a 'nano-usefulness' into a microsystem precisely where it is required. Such changes will at last prompt enhanced sensors and contribute not exclusively to upgrades in our personal satisfaction yet in addition to building vitality sparing frameworks that can be created with low-squander fabricating techniquestechniques.