Chapter “Engineered Nanoparticles in Smart Agricultural Revolution: An Enticing Domain
to Move Carefully” of Part One written by Srivastava et al. summarizes the significant role of
ENPs in agricultural revolution by discussing their interactions with plants and soil
microorganisms. Potential benefits of using ENPs in agriculture include their use in
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides for their targeted controlled release, without overdosing
and leach outs. However, these ENPs need to be studied further for their harmful effects due to
their toxicological effects, acquired biological activity and their unknown fate in environment.
Chapter “Nanotechnology: Advancement for Agricultural Sustainability” by Upinder and
Kumar reviews various advancements in nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture. For
increase in agricultural production, various types of nanomaterials have been utilized, but all
of them also pose an indirect threat to environment, which is still under investigation.
A summary of already utilized nanomaterials in agricultural field has been given. Both these
chapters cover the introductory remarks of the book.
Chapters “Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production: Recent Development and
Strategies”–“Plant Physiological Responses to Engineered Nanoparticles” come under Part
Two in which authors have explored the role of ENPs in crop development and improvement.
Chapter “Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production: Recent Development and
Strategies” by Abhishek Kumar et al. summarizes a lot of recent developments and strategies utilizing nanotechnology for sustainable crop production. Use of nanomaterials like
nano-pesticides, nano-insecticide and nano-weedicides has been discussed at length for
exploring applications like increase in seed germination, growth in crop production, identifying pest attack and disease prevalence, etc.
Chapter “Interaction of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles with Plants in Agro-ecosystems”
by Ranjana Singh et al. discusses about the interaction of titanium dioxide nanoparticles
(TiO 2 -NPs) with plants in agro-ecosystems. The interactions of TiO 2 -NPs in terms of their
uptake, translocation and accumulation in plants with an overview of their effect on morphology, physiology, biochemical and molecular pathways have been described in detail.
Application of TiO 2 -NPs in agriculture as growth boosters and protecting agents against
various biotic and abiotic stresses has also been explored. Chapter “Interaction of Nano-TiO 2
with Plants: Preparation and Translocation” by Moodley and Arumugam elaborated on the
interaction of nano-titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) with plants, their preparation and translocation.
These TiO 2 nanoparticles have been used in various products of domestic as well as industrial
use. Later, these products end up in soil or water for becoming a cause of pollution, which may
let them enter the food chain. Therefore, studying their interaction with various plants becomes
important and has been reviewed here. Chapter “Plant Physiological Responses to Engineered
Nanoparticles” by Ahmed Abdul Haleem Khan has discussed about the plant physiological
responses to ENPs. Potential of ENPs as plant growth stimulants, fungicides, pesticides,
weedicides and fertilizers has been explored for agriculture production.
Part Three of the book contains two chapters (Chaps. “Engineered Nanoparticles in Agroecosystems: Implications on the Soil Health” and “Effect of Engineered Nanoparticles on Soil
Attributes and Potential in Reclamation of Degraded Lands”) dealing with the nanoparticle
interaction with the soil and regulation of soil health. Chapter “Engineered Nanoparticles in
Agro-ecosystems: Implications on the Soil Health” by Mishra et al. has summarized the role of
ENPs in agro-ecosystems and their implications on the soil health. Since the delivery of the ENPs
in the form of nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides and nano-weedicides, etc., lead to various
transformations in soil environment, which directly affects the soil microbial communities. To
tackle these challenges, various risk assessment and mitigation strategies should also be worked
out, some of which have been reviewed in this chapter. Chapter “Effect of Engineered
Nanoparticles on Soil Attributes and Potential in Reclamation of Degraded Lands” by Vipin
Kumar Singh et al. elaborates on the effect of ENPs on soil attributes and potential in reclamation
of degraded lands. This chapter has reviewed the applications of ENPs for improving agricultural
productivity. Also, the important techniques for nanoparticle quantification, impact of ENPs on
soil characteristics and their potential in management of degraded lands have been discussed.
vi
Preface
to Move Carefully” of Part One written by Srivastava et al. summarizes the significant role of
ENPs in agricultural revolution by discussing their interactions with plants and soil
microorganisms. Potential benefits of using ENPs in agriculture include their use in
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides for their targeted controlled release, without overdosing
and leach outs. However, these ENPs need to be studied further for their harmful effects due to
their toxicological effects, acquired biological activity and their unknown fate in environment.
Chapter “Nanotechnology: Advancement for Agricultural Sustainability” by Upinder and
Kumar reviews various advancements in nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture. For
increase in agricultural production, various types of nanomaterials have been utilized, but all
of them also pose an indirect threat to environment, which is still under investigation.
A summary of already utilized nanomaterials in agricultural field has been given. Both these
chapters cover the introductory remarks of the book.
Chapters “Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production: Recent Development and
Strategies”–“Plant Physiological Responses to Engineered Nanoparticles” come under Part
Two in which authors have explored the role of ENPs in crop development and improvement.
Chapter “Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production: Recent Development and
Strategies” by Abhishek Kumar et al. summarizes a lot of recent developments and strategies utilizing nanotechnology for sustainable crop production. Use of nanomaterials like
nano-pesticides, nano-insecticide and nano-weedicides has been discussed at length for
exploring applications like increase in seed germination, growth in crop production, identifying pest attack and disease prevalence, etc.
Chapter “Interaction of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles with Plants in Agro-ecosystems”
by Ranjana Singh et al. discusses about the interaction of titanium dioxide nanoparticles
(TiO 2 -NPs) with plants in agro-ecosystems. The interactions of TiO 2 -NPs in terms of their
uptake, translocation and accumulation in plants with an overview of their effect on morphology, physiology, biochemical and molecular pathways have been described in detail.
Application of TiO 2 -NPs in agriculture as growth boosters and protecting agents against
various biotic and abiotic stresses has also been explored. Chapter “Interaction of Nano-TiO 2
with Plants: Preparation and Translocation” by Moodley and Arumugam elaborated on the
interaction of nano-titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) with plants, their preparation and translocation.
These TiO 2 nanoparticles have been used in various products of domestic as well as industrial
use. Later, these products end up in soil or water for becoming a cause of pollution, which may
let them enter the food chain. Therefore, studying their interaction with various plants becomes
important and has been reviewed here. Chapter “Plant Physiological Responses to Engineered
Nanoparticles” by Ahmed Abdul Haleem Khan has discussed about the plant physiological
responses to ENPs. Potential of ENPs as plant growth stimulants, fungicides, pesticides,
weedicides and fertilizers has been explored for agriculture production.
Part Three of the book contains two chapters (Chaps. “Engineered Nanoparticles in Agroecosystems: Implications on the Soil Health” and “Effect of Engineered Nanoparticles on Soil
Attributes and Potential in Reclamation of Degraded Lands”) dealing with the nanoparticle
interaction with the soil and regulation of soil health. Chapter “Engineered Nanoparticles in
Agro-ecosystems: Implications on the Soil Health” by Mishra et al. has summarized the role of
ENPs in agro-ecosystems and their implications on the soil health. Since the delivery of the ENPs
in the form of nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides and nano-weedicides, etc., lead to various
transformations in soil environment, which directly affects the soil microbial communities. To
tackle these challenges, various risk assessment and mitigation strategies should also be worked
out, some of which have been reviewed in this chapter. Chapter “Effect of Engineered
Nanoparticles on Soil Attributes and Potential in Reclamation of Degraded Lands” by Vipin
Kumar Singh et al. elaborates on the effect of ENPs on soil attributes and potential in reclamation
of degraded lands. This chapter has reviewed the applications of ENPs for improving agricultural
productivity. Also, the important techniques for nanoparticle quantification, impact of ENPs on
soil characteristics and their potential in management of degraded lands have been discussed.
vi
Preface