In pesticide detection, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, and nanocomposites and quantum dots with different
polymers have been used (Cesarino et al. 2012; Liu et al.
2012). ZnO chitosan nanocomposite membrane was used for
the detection of Trichoderma harzianum (Raskar and Laware 2014). Graphene oxides further detect content of nitrate
in soil (Pan et al. 2016). Further, carbon nanotubes having
single wall (SWNTs) when inserted into chloroplast of plant
cells increased the photoabsorption (Wong et al. 2016).
Kwak et al. (2017) demonstrated that nanobionic approaches
helped in crop improvement and monitoring of environment
by inserting nanoparticles into plant cell by improving
imaging.
Fang et al. (2017) have reported that glutathione has
nanoparticles (Au-NPs) for acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
activity detection by means of fluorescence and toxic and
heavy metal Cd
2+ in water samples. Application of
nanosensors in agriculture is a promising tool which provides the assurance of development by monitoring soil and
crop health. However, the large number of records of
research in this area, regarding the performance of reliable
nanosensors, is surprisingly insufficient in field, opening a
window for research in future.
5 Application of Nanosensors in Agriculture
Nanosensors have more advantages in comparison with
conventional sensors because of higher sensitivity, quick
response, reliable results, large surface-to-volume ratio and
high stability. Detection range is small in gram/mole range
or lower than that which is found in several matrixes and
facilitates fast electron transfer kit. Nanosensor-based system on global positioning level has been used for monitoring
of cultivated fields at real time level in the growing season.
All these applications assure the monitoring of crop growth
at real time level and high-quality data which could be
effective and further provide chances for management
practices and ignoring large dose of agricultural inputs.
There are different metal nanomaterials such as quantum
dots (QD), carbon nanotubes (CNT), gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and nanocomposites with polymers used in
construction of nanosensors for the detection purpose of
pesticides, insecticides, acting as a disease detection tool,
providing smart agricultural practices, etc. (Zheng et al.
2011; Cesarino et al. 2012; Liu et al. 2012).
A. Nanosensors Provide Smart Agricultural Practices
Society is more dependent on the conventional agriculture
practices and is transforming itself into smart agriculture in
which the main contribution came from nanosensors, and it
facilitates in progress of crop growth, detects pest attack on
crop in field condition, detects diseases in various crops and
reduces environmental stress (Chen and Yada 2011).
Real-time monitoring with nanosensors prevents the use of
fertilizer and pesticides and reduces environmental contaminants as well as the cost of the product.
Some of the activities included in smart agriculture are as
follows:
(a) Fertilizer or pesticide delivery system facilitated by
nanoformulations increases the wettability and dispersion of nutrients.
(b) Fertilizer or pesticide residues are detected by
nanosensors.
(c) Disease incidence and crop growth were monitored by
remote sensor systems.
B. Nanosensors Detect the Soil Humidity
Ganeshkumar et al. (2016) showed that nanofibers in one
dimension made up of potassium niobate (KNbO 3 ) are
sensing the humidity because of their large surface-tovolume ratio. Humidity nanosensors produce a result in the
form of log value in linear form dependant on conductance
versus relative humidity at the interval of two seconds.
Results showed an increase in conductance from 10 − 10℧
to 10 − 6℧ for relative humidity range from 15 to 95% at
room temperature.
C. Nanosensors and Crop Improvement
Bionic plants are developed through concise farming with
the insertion of nanoparticles into the plant and chloroplast
cells for imaging the presence of different objects in environment. Self-powering of plants is enhanced by communication of infrared devices or light sources (Ghorbanpour
and Fahimirad 2017; Kwak et al. 2017). In one study, Giraldo et al. (2014) and Wong et al. (2016) reported that in
in vivo conditions, single-walled carbon nanotubes
(SWNTs) when inserted in plant system increase the photoabsorption. SWNTs suppress the reactive oxygen species
(ROS) generation in chloroplast, and near-infrared fluorescence light-harvesting capacity is increased which results in
photosynthetic efficiency and yield of plants. Hence, nanobionic approaches help in crop improvement and monitoring
of environment.
D. Nanosensors Used for Herbicide Detection
Nanosensors composed of TiO 2 nanotubes were used for
atrazine detection in soil reported by Yu et al. (2010). Chitosan composites and carbon nanotubes which are
168
S. Dhiman et al.
polymers have been used (Cesarino et al. 2012; Liu et al.
2012). ZnO chitosan nanocomposite membrane was used for
the detection of Trichoderma harzianum (Raskar and Laware 2014). Graphene oxides further detect content of nitrate
in soil (Pan et al. 2016). Further, carbon nanotubes having
single wall (SWNTs) when inserted into chloroplast of plant
cells increased the photoabsorption (Wong et al. 2016).
Kwak et al. (2017) demonstrated that nanobionic approaches
helped in crop improvement and monitoring of environment
by inserting nanoparticles into plant cell by improving
imaging.
Fang et al. (2017) have reported that glutathione has
nanoparticles (Au-NPs) for acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
activity detection by means of fluorescence and toxic and
heavy metal Cd
2+ in water samples. Application of
nanosensors in agriculture is a promising tool which provides the assurance of development by monitoring soil and
crop health. However, the large number of records of
research in this area, regarding the performance of reliable
nanosensors, is surprisingly insufficient in field, opening a
window for research in future.
5 Application of Nanosensors in Agriculture
Nanosensors have more advantages in comparison with
conventional sensors because of higher sensitivity, quick
response, reliable results, large surface-to-volume ratio and
high stability. Detection range is small in gram/mole range
or lower than that which is found in several matrixes and
facilitates fast electron transfer kit. Nanosensor-based system on global positioning level has been used for monitoring
of cultivated fields at real time level in the growing season.
All these applications assure the monitoring of crop growth
at real time level and high-quality data which could be
effective and further provide chances for management
practices and ignoring large dose of agricultural inputs.
There are different metal nanomaterials such as quantum
dots (QD), carbon nanotubes (CNT), gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and nanocomposites with polymers used in
construction of nanosensors for the detection purpose of
pesticides, insecticides, acting as a disease detection tool,
providing smart agricultural practices, etc. (Zheng et al.
2011; Cesarino et al. 2012; Liu et al. 2012).
A. Nanosensors Provide Smart Agricultural Practices
Society is more dependent on the conventional agriculture
practices and is transforming itself into smart agriculture in
which the main contribution came from nanosensors, and it
facilitates in progress of crop growth, detects pest attack on
crop in field condition, detects diseases in various crops and
reduces environmental stress (Chen and Yada 2011).
Real-time monitoring with nanosensors prevents the use of
fertilizer and pesticides and reduces environmental contaminants as well as the cost of the product.
Some of the activities included in smart agriculture are as
follows:
(a) Fertilizer or pesticide delivery system facilitated by
nanoformulations increases the wettability and dispersion of nutrients.
(b) Fertilizer or pesticide residues are detected by
nanosensors.
(c) Disease incidence and crop growth were monitored by
remote sensor systems.
B. Nanosensors Detect the Soil Humidity
Ganeshkumar et al. (2016) showed that nanofibers in one
dimension made up of potassium niobate (KNbO 3 ) are
sensing the humidity because of their large surface-tovolume ratio. Humidity nanosensors produce a result in the
form of log value in linear form dependant on conductance
versus relative humidity at the interval of two seconds.
Results showed an increase in conductance from 10 − 10℧
to 10 − 6℧ for relative humidity range from 15 to 95% at
room temperature.
C. Nanosensors and Crop Improvement
Bionic plants are developed through concise farming with
the insertion of nanoparticles into the plant and chloroplast
cells for imaging the presence of different objects in environment. Self-powering of plants is enhanced by communication of infrared devices or light sources (Ghorbanpour
and Fahimirad 2017; Kwak et al. 2017). In one study, Giraldo et al. (2014) and Wong et al. (2016) reported that in
in vivo conditions, single-walled carbon nanotubes
(SWNTs) when inserted in plant system increase the photoabsorption. SWNTs suppress the reactive oxygen species
(ROS) generation in chloroplast, and near-infrared fluorescence light-harvesting capacity is increased which results in
photosynthetic efficiency and yield of plants. Hence, nanobionic approaches help in crop improvement and monitoring
of environment.
D. Nanosensors Used for Herbicide Detection
Nanosensors composed of TiO 2 nanotubes were used for
atrazine detection in soil reported by Yu et al. (2010). Chitosan composites and carbon nanotubes which are
168
S. Dhiman et al.