chitosan nanoparticles have shown lower environmental
impact and genotoxicity in Allium cepa (Grillo et al. 2016).
4 Engineered Nanoparticles Impact on Soil
Microbial Processes
Having diverse range of nanotechnology products around us,
its presence in air, water, and soil is unavoidable, owing to no
strict regulation and monitoring placed in this regard. Similar
to pollution, sources of ENPs into these three systems can also
be described as point (production and storage units, research
laboratories) or non-point sources. Also, ENPs stand a better
change to mobilize to other places via air and water owing to
their small sizes. Soil is known to be the highest recipient of
ENPs, owing to their extreme resistance and tendency to
accumulate. As soil microbial biomass and diversity is crucial
for the sustainable use of soils, using ecological subsidies in
the form of ecological processes (Torsvik and Øvreås 2002),
the nanoparticles may have considerable influences on this
ecosystem, mediating a change in soil microbial community
characteristics. Metal/metal oxide nanoparticles have been
identified as most toxic to soil microbial community which
support important ecosystem processes such as nutrient
cycling (Fig. 2), thus threatening soil health and fertility
(Parada et al. 2019a; b). TiO 2 nanoparticles impact on nitrification process and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria has been
observed strongly negative, triggering a cascading negative
effect on denitrification activity and considerable change in
bacterial community structure (Simonin et al. 2016).
However, contradictory report has also been observed (Chavan and Nadanathangam 2020). ENPs have been observed to
affect soil humic acid content, influencing soil bacterial
community characteristics (including diversity) affecting
decomposition process (Kumar et al. 2012; Ben-Moshe et al.
2013). Soil contaminations of ENPs persist in the soil for long,
or they may contaminate ground water (Tripathi et al. 2012).
Among the nano-applications, widely used paints, coatings, and pigments have the highest possibility of getting
released into water and soil systems. Owing to close linkage
of soil and plant system, ENPs in soil may harm microorganisms and plants, and thus animals and human beings as a
consequence, present down the line in trophic food chain.
They may also affect soil rhizospheric and phyllospheric
microbial community to indirectly affect the plant
functioning/metabolism. The presence and persistence of
ENPs into the natural environment (such as
agro-ecosystems) owing to their widespread use may
threaten the favorable microbial communities (bacteria and
fungi). Nanoparticles accumulate in our natural systems via
soil and water remediation technologies, use as
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides, and their unintentional
emission through water, air, sludge, and sewage (Tourinho
et al. 2012; Tripathi et al. 2012; Shandilya et al. 2015; Coll
et al. 2016). The measurement of soil CO 2 efflux/respiration
and enzyme activity is often used to observe how the ENPs
affect soil microbial activity (Simonin and Richaume 2015).
In some recent studies, TiO 2 and CuO ENPs have been
found to decrease soil microbial biomass and enzymatic
activities, in addition to microbial community structure in
Fig. 2 Harmful aspects of
engineered nanoparticles (ENPs)
application in agriculture
Engineered Nanoparticles in Smart Agricultural Revolution …
9
impact and genotoxicity in Allium cepa (Grillo et al. 2016).
4 Engineered Nanoparticles Impact on Soil
Microbial Processes
Having diverse range of nanotechnology products around us,
its presence in air, water, and soil is unavoidable, owing to no
strict regulation and monitoring placed in this regard. Similar
to pollution, sources of ENPs into these three systems can also
be described as point (production and storage units, research
laboratories) or non-point sources. Also, ENPs stand a better
change to mobilize to other places via air and water owing to
their small sizes. Soil is known to be the highest recipient of
ENPs, owing to their extreme resistance and tendency to
accumulate. As soil microbial biomass and diversity is crucial
for the sustainable use of soils, using ecological subsidies in
the form of ecological processes (Torsvik and Øvreås 2002),
the nanoparticles may have considerable influences on this
ecosystem, mediating a change in soil microbial community
characteristics. Metal/metal oxide nanoparticles have been
identified as most toxic to soil microbial community which
support important ecosystem processes such as nutrient
cycling (Fig. 2), thus threatening soil health and fertility
(Parada et al. 2019a; b). TiO 2 nanoparticles impact on nitrification process and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria has been
observed strongly negative, triggering a cascading negative
effect on denitrification activity and considerable change in
bacterial community structure (Simonin et al. 2016).
However, contradictory report has also been observed (Chavan and Nadanathangam 2020). ENPs have been observed to
affect soil humic acid content, influencing soil bacterial
community characteristics (including diversity) affecting
decomposition process (Kumar et al. 2012; Ben-Moshe et al.
2013). Soil contaminations of ENPs persist in the soil for long,
or they may contaminate ground water (Tripathi et al. 2012).
Among the nano-applications, widely used paints, coatings, and pigments have the highest possibility of getting
released into water and soil systems. Owing to close linkage
of soil and plant system, ENPs in soil may harm microorganisms and plants, and thus animals and human beings as a
consequence, present down the line in trophic food chain.
They may also affect soil rhizospheric and phyllospheric
microbial community to indirectly affect the plant
functioning/metabolism. The presence and persistence of
ENPs into the natural environment (such as
agro-ecosystems) owing to their widespread use may
threaten the favorable microbial communities (bacteria and
fungi). Nanoparticles accumulate in our natural systems via
soil and water remediation technologies, use as
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides, and their unintentional
emission through water, air, sludge, and sewage (Tourinho
et al. 2012; Tripathi et al. 2012; Shandilya et al. 2015; Coll
et al. 2016). The measurement of soil CO 2 efflux/respiration
and enzyme activity is often used to observe how the ENPs
affect soil microbial activity (Simonin and Richaume 2015).
In some recent studies, TiO 2 and CuO ENPs have been
found to decrease soil microbial biomass and enzymatic
activities, in addition to microbial community structure in
Fig. 2 Harmful aspects of
engineered nanoparticles (ENPs)
application in agriculture
Engineered Nanoparticles in Smart Agricultural Revolution …
9