Nanotechnology in agriculture: Current status, challenges and future opportunities

In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained tremendous attention attributed to their unique properties. Notably, evidence has shown that zinc is an important nutrient in living organisms. As such, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes including bacteria, fungi and yeast are exploited for the synthesis of ZnO NPs by using microbial cells or enzyme, protein and other biomolecules compounds in either an intracellular or extracellular route. ZnO NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties, however, the properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are depended upon on their size and shape, which make them specific for various applications. Nevertheless, the desired size and shape of NPs can be obtained through the optimization process of microbes mediated synthesis by manipulating their reaction conditions. It should be noted that ZnO NPs are synthesized by various chemical and physical methods. Nonetheless, these methods are expensive and not environmentally friendly. On that account, the microbes mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs have rapidly evolved recently where the microbes are cleaner, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biocompatible as the alternatives to chemical and physical practices. Moreover, zinc in the form of NPs is more effective than their bulk counterparts and thus, they have been explored for many potential applications including in animals industry. Notably, with the advent of multi-drug resistant strains, ZnO NPs have emerged as the potential antimicrobial agents. This is mainly due to their superior properties in combating a broad spectrum of pathogens. Moreover, zinc is known as an essential trace element for most of the biological function in the animal’s body. As such, the applications of ZnO NPs have been reported to significantly enhance the health and production of the farm animals. Thus, this paper reviews the biological synthesis of ZnO NPs by the microbes, the mechanisms of the biological synthesis, parameters for the optimization process and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and feed supplement in the animal industry as well as their toxicological hazards on animals.

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Microbial synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and a feed supplement in animal industry: a review

Zinc-oxide nanoparticles are being used in a wide range of commercial applications and are therefore expected to find their way into the soil ecosystem. Problems concerning Zinc-oxide nanoparticle toxicity, in-vitro and in-vivo testing methods for living organisms, the development of environmental health criteria and the acceptance of toxicity limits of metal nanoparticles, are topical. This review will contribute to understanding the fate and behaviour of Zinc-oxide nanoparticles in soil, their uptake and distribution within plants, animals, and microbes as well as their interactions with other pollutants. It is an essential prerequisite to environmentally realistic studies of the ecotoxicology of nanoparticles. Increased application of nanoparticles threatens communities as well as plants, terrestrial and aquatic animals. Thus, it is important to explore whether nanoparticles could compromise soil biodiversity and the important functions maintained by soil communities.

Effects of zinc-oxide nanoparticles on soil, plants, animals and soil organisms: A review

Nutrient deficiency in food crops is seriously affecting human health, especially those in the rural areas, and nanotechnology may become the most sustainable approach to alleviating this challenge. There are several ways of fortifying the nutrients in food such as dietary diversification, use of drugs and industrial fortification. However, the affordability and sustainability of these methods have not been completely achieved. Plants absorb nutrients from fertilizers, but most conventional fertilizers have low nutrient use and uptake efficiency. Nanofertilizers are, therefore, engineered to be target oriented and not easily lost. This review surveys the effects of the addition of macro- and nanonutrients to soil, the interaction, and the absorption capability of the plants, the environmental effect and food content of the nutrients. Most reports were obtained from recent works, and they show that plants nutrients could be enriched by applying nanoparticulate nutrients, which are easily absorbed by the plant. Although there are some toxicity issues associated with the use of nanoparticles in crop, biologically synthesized nanoparticles may be preferred for agricultural purposes. This would circumvent the concerns associated with toxicity, in addition to being pollution free. This report, therefore, offers more understanding on the application of nanotechnology in biofortification of plant nutrients and the future possibilities offered by this practice. It also highlights some of the ills associated with the introduction of nanomaterials into the soil for crop’s improvement.

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The Role of Nanotechnology in the Fortification of Plant Nutrients and Improvement of Crop Production

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a multifunctional material due to its exceptional physicochemical properties and broad usefulness. The special properties resulting from the reduction of the material size from the macro scale to the nano scale has made the application of ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO NMs) more popular in numerous consumer products. In recent years, particular attention has been drawn to the development of various methods of ZnO NMs synthesis, which above all meet the requirements of the green chemistry approach. The application of the microwave heating technology when obtaining ZnO NMs enables the development of new methods of syntheses, which are characterised by, among others, the possibility to control the properties, repeatability, reproducibility, short synthesis duration, low price, purity, and fulfilment of the eco-friendly approach criterion. The dynamic development of materials engineering is the reason why it is necessary to obtain ZnO NMs with strictly defined properties. The present review aims to discuss the state of the art regarding the microwave synthesis of undoped and doped ZnO NMs. The first part of the review presents the properties of ZnO and new applications of ZnO NMs. Subsequently, the properties of microwave heating are discussed and compared with conventional heating and areas of application are presented. The final part of the paper presents reactants, parameters of processes, and the morphology of products, with a division of the microwave synthesis of ZnO NMs into three primary groups, namely hydrothermal, solvothermal, and hybrid methods.

A Review of Microwave Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanomaterials: Reactants, Process Parameters and Morphologies

Nanoparticles (NPs) received great attention due to their unique properties and beneficiary applications in various sectors. The rapid growth of NPs production and its abundant uses create additional risks on an anthropogenically modified ecosystem, and consequently on human beings. The main aim of this review article is to explore the possible threats imposed by CuO NPs on cultivated crop plants. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science portals for the literature review to get latest updated information and developments in the field of toxicity of CuO NPs on cultivated plants. This review article clearly denoted the toxic effects of CuO NPs on cultivated crop plants by inhibiting seed germination, decreases in the shoot and root lengths, reduction in photosynthesis and respiration rate, and morphological as well enzymatic changes. The information is significant to researchers and policymakers to define limits and future prospectives.

Effects of Copper Nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on Crop Plants: a Mini Review

Nanoparticles (NPs) have received increased attention in recent past due to their unique distinct properties. Metal-based NPs are widely used in chemical and allied sector. Most of the research is directed to study the efficiency of NPs in medicine and agriculture. The aim of this review is to explore the possible threats posed by toxicity of various NPs on plants and microbial diversity. First, major sources of NPs to the environment were analyzed. The effects of metal-based NPs on the microbiota and plants are presented in this review. The results obtained by the authors during last 12 years of research are used. The exposure of soil to nanoparticles causes a decrease in soil microbial biomass and enzymatic activity, which impacts microbial community composition including yeasts, bacteria, fungi, and biological diversity. The effects of NPs on plants result in various types of abnormalities. Nanoparticles can also pose risks to human health. Increased applications of NPs pose a threat to beneficial microbial communities as well as crops and soils. Thus, it is important to explore whether NPs could compromise crop yield, soil properties, soil organisms, and functional activities of soil.

Effect of nanoparticles on crops and soil microbial communities

The effect of natural and technogenic factors on the Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, Cd, and As compounds mobility and transformation were studied from an analysis of the fractional–group composition of Cu, Zn, and Pb compounds in the soils of areas adjacent to the Novocherkassk power station. Novocherkassk Power Station is one of the largest power plants at the South of the Russian Federation. The soils sampled from the non-arable sites at different distances from the Power Station. The investigated soils were meadowy chernozem, calcareous chernozem, and alluvialmeadowy soil. The total concentration of metals was determined by the X-ray-fluorescent method. Mobile forms of metals include exchangeable, complex and specifically adsorbed compounds were determined. The fractionation method by Tessier (1979) was applied for metal compounds determination. Changes in the composition of Cu, Zn, and Pb compounds in the soils of technogenic landscapes were estimated. The effect of aerosol technogenic emissions on the mobility of metal compounds was revealed; a higher metal mobility was found in soils with low buffering capacity. Common and specific features of the formation of Cu, Zn, and Pb compounds in soils were determined. The role of individual soil components in the retention of metals in clean and contaminated soils was established.

Viktoriia S. Tsitsuashvili

Papers

Effects of zinc-oxide nanoparticles on soil, plants, animals and soil organisms: A review

Effects of Copper Nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on Crop Plants: a Mini Review

Effect of nanoparticles on crops and soil microbial communities

Effect of Natural and Technogenic Factors on the Mobility and Transformation of Metal Compounds in Soil