Advanced applications of nanotechnology in agriculture: An overview

Abstract

As population of world is increasing at an enormous rate, so this increase in population exerts pressure on farmers to increase food production from available area of agriculture. Conventional methods used to increase food production like formation of genetically modified plants as well as use of fertilizers such as urea fertilizer have large number of disadvantages. In order to increase food quantity and quality, nanotechnology is being preferred now a days. Nanotechnology involves Nano encapsulation of agro chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides so that their accurate and desired amount is released in plants when needed. This nano encapsulation prevents toxicity which is caused by excessive use of these chemicals when these are directly applied to plants. Nano sensor is another application of nanotechnology which is used to detect pathogen attack on plants. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease at Nano scale is acquiring a lot of attention these days. Inspite of all that nanoparticles can cause chemical as well as physical poisonousness and phytotoxicity to plants affecting their development. Even then, Scientists are expecting that in future, use of nanotechnology in agriculture will be helpful to solve all the problems that are related to food shortage.