(Maysinger 2007), and nano-array-based genetic modification in animals and plants
in stress conditions. Nanofilters or nanocatalysts can degrade and reduce existing
pollutants and thereby pollution. In agriculture, nanotechnology can be used to
produce slow-release nanofertilizers for fertilizer use by plants; nanoparticles encapsulated pesticides for controlled and on-demand release; site-specific drug and
nutrient delivery in fisheries and livestock; nanoparticles, nanobrushes, and
nanomembranes for treatment of water and soil; cleaning and maintenance of
fishponds; and nanosensors for assessing plant health and soil quality. Some recent
breakthrough in nanotechnology in agriculture has been given in Table 9.1.
9.2.1 Natural Resource Management
Soil Fertility Management
Fertilizers are required for maintaining soil fertility and production of food and crop
quality particularly after the adoption of high-yielding, hybrid, and fertilizerresponsive cultivars. Conventional fertilizer application methods (like spraying and
broadcasting) cause losses by leaching, drifting, runoff water, evaporation, soil
moisture-driven hydrolysis, and microbial and photolytic degradation. This causes
very less concentration to reach to the targeted site. About 40–70% nitrogen, 80–90%
phosphorus, and 50–90% potassium of conventionally applied fertilizers are lost in the
environment (Trenkel 1997) resulting the requirement of repeated applications of
fertilizers and pesticides. But the excess use of fertilizers and pesticides causes
environmental pollution; natural resource degradation; pesticide resistance in pest
and pathogens; reduction in soil microflora and nitrogen fixation; and bioaccumulation
of pesticides (Tilman et al. 2002). Hence, optimum use of chemical/synthetic fertilizer
as per nutritional demand of crop and minimum environmental pollution are the need
of the hour. This can be done through application of nanofertilizers. Nanofertilizers
also called smart fertilizer are either nanomaterials (NMs) which supply single or
multiple nutrients to plants improving development and yield of crops or those which
compliments better performance of conventional synthetic fertilizers, without directly
supplying nutrients to crops (Liu and Lal 2015). A nanofertilizer is a product in
nanometer level that supply nutrients to specific target sites and can improve nutrient
use efficiency (NUE) and diminish environmental degradation (Chinnamuthu and
Boopathi 2009). Nanoencapsulation of fertilizers is done in three ways: nutrients are
(a) encapsulated in nanoporous materials, (b) coated with thin film polymer, or
(c) delivered as nanoparticle or nanoemulsions (Rai et al. 2012). Nanomaterial encapsulation on fertilizer binds more strongly the material because of high surface tension
(Brady and Weil 1999). The nanoformulation of fertilizer possesses properties like
high solubility, controlled and timely release, stability, effectiveness, improved
targeted activity by delivering desired concentration, and reduced toxicity with easy,
safe distribution and disposal (Torney et al. 2007 and Green and Beestman 2007). The
nanoparticles loaded with nutrients are prepared by (a) absorption, (b) ligand-mediated
320
P. Pramanik et al.
in stress conditions. Nanofilters or nanocatalysts can degrade and reduce existing
pollutants and thereby pollution. In agriculture, nanotechnology can be used to
produce slow-release nanofertilizers for fertilizer use by plants; nanoparticles encapsulated pesticides for controlled and on-demand release; site-specific drug and
nutrient delivery in fisheries and livestock; nanoparticles, nanobrushes, and
nanomembranes for treatment of water and soil; cleaning and maintenance of
fishponds; and nanosensors for assessing plant health and soil quality. Some recent
breakthrough in nanotechnology in agriculture has been given in Table 9.1.
9.2.1 Natural Resource Management
Soil Fertility Management
Fertilizers are required for maintaining soil fertility and production of food and crop
quality particularly after the adoption of high-yielding, hybrid, and fertilizerresponsive cultivars. Conventional fertilizer application methods (like spraying and
broadcasting) cause losses by leaching, drifting, runoff water, evaporation, soil
moisture-driven hydrolysis, and microbial and photolytic degradation. This causes
very less concentration to reach to the targeted site. About 40–70% nitrogen, 80–90%
phosphorus, and 50–90% potassium of conventionally applied fertilizers are lost in the
environment (Trenkel 1997) resulting the requirement of repeated applications of
fertilizers and pesticides. But the excess use of fertilizers and pesticides causes
environmental pollution; natural resource degradation; pesticide resistance in pest
and pathogens; reduction in soil microflora and nitrogen fixation; and bioaccumulation
of pesticides (Tilman et al. 2002). Hence, optimum use of chemical/synthetic fertilizer
as per nutritional demand of crop and minimum environmental pollution are the need
of the hour. This can be done through application of nanofertilizers. Nanofertilizers
also called smart fertilizer are either nanomaterials (NMs) which supply single or
multiple nutrients to plants improving development and yield of crops or those which
compliments better performance of conventional synthetic fertilizers, without directly
supplying nutrients to crops (Liu and Lal 2015). A nanofertilizer is a product in
nanometer level that supply nutrients to specific target sites and can improve nutrient
use efficiency (NUE) and diminish environmental degradation (Chinnamuthu and
Boopathi 2009). Nanoencapsulation of fertilizers is done in three ways: nutrients are
(a) encapsulated in nanoporous materials, (b) coated with thin film polymer, or
(c) delivered as nanoparticle or nanoemulsions (Rai et al. 2012). Nanomaterial encapsulation on fertilizer binds more strongly the material because of high surface tension
(Brady and Weil 1999). The nanoformulation of fertilizer possesses properties like
high solubility, controlled and timely release, stability, effectiveness, improved
targeted activity by delivering desired concentration, and reduced toxicity with easy,
safe distribution and disposal (Torney et al. 2007 and Green and Beestman 2007). The
nanoparticles loaded with nutrients are prepared by (a) absorption, (b) ligand-mediated
320
P. Pramanik et al.