Role of ENPs as nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides and bio- nanosensors has been explored in
the next three chapters (Chaps. “Advances of Engineered Nanofertilizers for Modern Agriculture
”–“Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture”) under Part Four.
Chapter “Advances of Engineered Nanofertilizers for Modern Agriculture” by Theivasanthi
Thirugnanasambandan has explored the advances of engineered nano-fertilizers for modern
agriculture. Zeolite nano-fertilizers, carbon nanomaterials based fertilizers and slow or controlled
release fertilizers (such as hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated urea, polymer-coated fertilizers)
have been elaborated. Also, use of coating bio-polymers (such as chitosan and thermoplastic
starch) on nano-fertilizers has been reviewed. Chapter “Nano-fertilizers and Nano-pesticides as
Promoters of Plant Growth in Agriculture” by Niloy Sarkar et al. elucidates the applications of
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides as promoters of plant growth in agriculture. Both positive as
well as negative aspects of utilization of nanomaterials in agriculture field have been discussed in
detail. This chapter elaborates upon various types, mechanisms, benefits and potential applications of novel nano-agrochemicals, which are necessary to attain more sustainable agriculture
practices. Chapter “Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture” by
Shailja Dhiman et al. has exploited quite significant role of bio-nanosensors in agriculture.
Synthesis of nanomaterials using plants and microbes via bio-nanotechnology has become quite
important nowadays. This chapter discusses about the synthesis and further applications of the
nanomaterials as bio-nanosensors in pathogen detection, sensing food quality, adulterants, dyes,
vitamins, fertilizers and pesticides.
Part Five (based on interaction of ENPs and microbes) consists of two chapters (Chaps.
“Interaction of Nanoparticles with Microbes” and “Nano-toxicity and Aquatic Food Chain”).
Chapter “Interaction of Nanoparticles with Microbes” by Sudhir S. Shende et al. discusses
about the interaction of nanomaterials with microbes, as its crucial role to understand the
toxicity mechanisms, impacting the aquatic and soil health. Further, antimicrobial and antifungal properties of the nanoparticles are elaborated, for understanding the complex nature
of the interaction between the microorganisms and nanoparticles. Chapter “Nano-toxicity and
Aquatic Food Chain” by Krishna and Sachan talks about the nanotoxicity, especially in
aquatic food chain. The ENPs interact with aquatic organisms on both upper and lower trophic
levels throughout the aquatic food chain. Impact of these ENPs on aquatic ecosystem further
needs to be studied more carefully, for their effect on food chain resulting in bioaccumulation
affecting aquatic animal’s well-being, development, reproduction and physiology.
The ultimate part (Part Six) of the book deals with the overall PM-ENPs nexus approach in a
single chapter. The ultimate chapter of the book, i.e. Chap. “Impact of Engineered Nanoparticles
on Microbial Communities, Soil Health and Plants”, by Akhilesh Kumar et al. has elaborated
upon the impacts of ENPs on microbial communities, soil health and plants. Sometimes, the use
of ENPs in agriculture results in toxicity in economically important crops and trigger severe
oxidative stress in plants leading to cell death. This toxicity can later pose potential threats to
human and other animal’s health, which might consume these plants in due course of time.
We sincerely do expect that the insights from this book on various aspects related to
PM-ENPs nexus approach for sustainable agriculture would be quite useful for scientists,
researchers, graduate students and policymakers working in this field all across the globe.
We are very much thankful to all the learned contributors for their valuable time and
contribution. The completion of this volume would have not been possible without the persistent efforts of eminent reviewers and colleagues. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to
technical staffs of Springer Nature for typesetting and efficient production of the book.
New Delhi, India
Pardeep Singh
Varanasi, India
Rishikesh Singh
Varanasi, India
Pramit Verma
New Delhi, India
Rahul Bhadouria
Rishon LeZion, Israel
Ajay Kumar
New Delhi, India
Mahima Kaushik
Preface
vii
the next three chapters (Chaps. “Advances of Engineered Nanofertilizers for Modern Agriculture
”–“Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture”) under Part Four.
Chapter “Advances of Engineered Nanofertilizers for Modern Agriculture” by Theivasanthi
Thirugnanasambandan has explored the advances of engineered nano-fertilizers for modern
agriculture. Zeolite nano-fertilizers, carbon nanomaterials based fertilizers and slow or controlled
release fertilizers (such as hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated urea, polymer-coated fertilizers)
have been elaborated. Also, use of coating bio-polymers (such as chitosan and thermoplastic
starch) on nano-fertilizers has been reviewed. Chapter “Nano-fertilizers and Nano-pesticides as
Promoters of Plant Growth in Agriculture” by Niloy Sarkar et al. elucidates the applications of
nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides as promoters of plant growth in agriculture. Both positive as
well as negative aspects of utilization of nanomaterials in agriculture field have been discussed in
detail. This chapter elaborates upon various types, mechanisms, benefits and potential applications of novel nano-agrochemicals, which are necessary to attain more sustainable agriculture
practices. Chapter “Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture” by
Shailja Dhiman et al. has exploited quite significant role of bio-nanosensors in agriculture.
Synthesis of nanomaterials using plants and microbes via bio-nanotechnology has become quite
important nowadays. This chapter discusses about the synthesis and further applications of the
nanomaterials as bio-nanosensors in pathogen detection, sensing food quality, adulterants, dyes,
vitamins, fertilizers and pesticides.
Part Five (based on interaction of ENPs and microbes) consists of two chapters (Chaps.
“Interaction of Nanoparticles with Microbes” and “Nano-toxicity and Aquatic Food Chain”).
Chapter “Interaction of Nanoparticles with Microbes” by Sudhir S. Shende et al. discusses
about the interaction of nanomaterials with microbes, as its crucial role to understand the
toxicity mechanisms, impacting the aquatic and soil health. Further, antimicrobial and antifungal properties of the nanoparticles are elaborated, for understanding the complex nature
of the interaction between the microorganisms and nanoparticles. Chapter “Nano-toxicity and
Aquatic Food Chain” by Krishna and Sachan talks about the nanotoxicity, especially in
aquatic food chain. The ENPs interact with aquatic organisms on both upper and lower trophic
levels throughout the aquatic food chain. Impact of these ENPs on aquatic ecosystem further
needs to be studied more carefully, for their effect on food chain resulting in bioaccumulation
affecting aquatic animal’s well-being, development, reproduction and physiology.
The ultimate part (Part Six) of the book deals with the overall PM-ENPs nexus approach in a
single chapter. The ultimate chapter of the book, i.e. Chap. “Impact of Engineered Nanoparticles
on Microbial Communities, Soil Health and Plants”, by Akhilesh Kumar et al. has elaborated
upon the impacts of ENPs on microbial communities, soil health and plants. Sometimes, the use
of ENPs in agriculture results in toxicity in economically important crops and trigger severe
oxidative stress in plants leading to cell death. This toxicity can later pose potential threats to
human and other animal’s health, which might consume these plants in due course of time.
We sincerely do expect that the insights from this book on various aspects related to
PM-ENPs nexus approach for sustainable agriculture would be quite useful for scientists,
researchers, graduate students and policymakers working in this field all across the globe.
We are very much thankful to all the learned contributors for their valuable time and
contribution. The completion of this volume would have not been possible without the persistent efforts of eminent reviewers and colleagues. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to
technical staffs of Springer Nature for typesetting and efficient production of the book.
New Delhi, India
Pardeep Singh
Varanasi, India
Rishikesh Singh
Varanasi, India
Pramit Verma
New Delhi, India
Rahul Bhadouria
Rishon LeZion, Israel
Ajay Kumar
New Delhi, India
Mahima Kaushik
Preface
vii