Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture in order to increase yields has proved unnecessary because a large part of them remain unused and have negative effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is a great challenge for farmers to replace the application of pesticides and fertilizers with nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, with the aim of reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and increasing yields, as well as supporting agricultural development. This review provides a detailed overview of the classification of pesticides, commonly used nanoparticles in agriculture and their function, as well as impact of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers on the environment. The application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers and new delivery mechanisms to improve crop productivity are reviewed and described. Particularly, the advantage of the nanoencapsulation process is emphasized for both pesticides and fertilizers. For hydrophobic pesticides, it may be a tool to provide greater stability, dispersion in aqueous media, and allowing a controlled release of the active compound, which increases its effectiveness. In nanofertilizers, micro- or macronutrients can be encapsulated by nanomaterials which allow to release of nutrients into the soil gradually and in a controlled way maintaining soil fertility, thus preventing eutrophication and pollution of water resources. Risks assessment of application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers in agriculture are required for their correct and safe application.
Nanotechnology is rapidly developing technology impacts every aspect of the food system from cultivation to food production to processing, packaging, transportation, shelf life, and bioavailability of nutrients [1]. Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary promising research field in developing new tools for plant disease treatments, pathogen detection, and improving the ability of plants to absorb nutrients [2] [3]. Besides this, nanotechnology takes place in the production of nanofertilizers for increasing the efficacy and bioavailability of such new fertilizers as well as decreasing the loss of these materials to the surrounding environment [4]. The application of nanotechnology in the agri-food sector is one of the fastest-growing fields in nano-research. The application of nanoagrochemicals seems crucial for promoting the modern type of agriculture. Application of nanotechnology include: 1) nanoformulations of agrochemicals for applying pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement; 2) the application of nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for the identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals; 3) nanodevices for the genetic manipulation of plants; 4) plant disease diagnostics; 5) animal health, animal breeding, poultry production; and 6) postharvest management [5].
Biological naturally occurring nanoparticles (nanoclay, tomato carotenoid lycopene, many chemicals derived from soil organic matter, lipoproteins, exosomes, magnetosomes, viruses, ferritin) have diverse structures with wide-ranging biological roles. Biological nanoparticles are often biocompatible and have reproducible structures [6].
Nanoscale carriers can be utilized for the efficient delivery of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. They can anchor the plant roots to the surrounding soil structure and organic matter thus reducing chemical runoff and alleviating environmental problems. These will help in increasing the bioavailability of active ingredients to the plant, thereby reducing the amount of effort and waste product [7].
It was observed that SiO2 nanoparticles enhanced germination in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) seeds [8].
A variety of nanomaterials like nanopesticides, nanoinsecticide, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles were developed using nanotechnology. Nanomaterials provide a platform to deliver agrochemicals and various macromolecules needed for plant growth enhancement and resistance to stresses. Smart delivery of agrochemicals increases the yield by optimizing water and nutrient conditions [9].
The global nanopesticide market size is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period 2020 to 2027. The increasing demand for food production globally and the rising use of various pesticides around the globe are some major factors to drive the market growth over the forecast period. The global nanopesticide market is segmented into product type, application, end-user, and region. On the basis of type, the market is classified into insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and nematicides. The insecticides segment held the largest market share in 2019 and accounted for over 41% of market share in terms of revenue Research Corridor (2020) [10].
The number of publications for the term “nanopesticides” and “nanofertilizers” on Science Direct clearly shows that scientists started intensive research only 5 years ago. Figure 1 shows the graphical number of publications in the last ten years for these terms.
2. Nanopesticides
Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to improve crop yield and efficiency. Urea is the most-widely used fertilizer for crop production and source of nitrate, nitrite, and urease that are ubiquitous contaminants in water causing eutrophication posing environmental implications [11] [12]. According to global urea market report, the demand for urea is 187.8 million metric tons in 2020,
and it is estimated that by 2026 that demand will be 211.5 million metric tons.
Figure 2 illustrates the classification of pesticides. Among pesticides, organo-phosphates, neonicotinoids, carbamates and atrazines are some of the dominant classes and their residues even at low concentration persist longer in soil due to low homogeneity. Pesticides can be classified based on their intended target organism as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, rodenticides, and miticides. Also, according to their intended use, they are divided as defoliants, desiccants, fumigants, and plant growth regulators [13].
Nanopesticides offer a way to both control delivery of pesticides and achieve greater effects with a lower chemical dose. The first type of nanopesticides can be foreseen in the form of active ingredient(s) that are either manufactured nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles (e.g. silver and copper) [14] [15] or metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g. zinc oxide, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide) [16] [17] [18]. The synthesis and application of nanopesticides aimsto enhance efficacy and durability of a pesticide and at the same time to reduce the amount of active ingredients present and minimize or eliminate any potential hazards. Figure 3 illustrates commonly used nanoparticles
in agriculture and their function.
Many nanoemulsions have been formulated with the application of herbicides and pesticides. Some of the major potential advantages of pesticide nanoemulsions over other methods include their strong adhesion to surfaces, high penetrability, and broad range of applicability [19].
In nanotechnology, the process of encapsulation is frequently used and it implies a process of entrapping one substance within another substance producing particles with diameters of a few nm to a few mm. The main reason for using encapsulation is the fact that some nutrients do not remain in the soil for a significant amount of time or may react with the other soil components causing undesirable effects [20].
The nanoencapsulation process is used for both pesticides and fertilizers. Nanoencapsulation is also used for pesticides, especially for hydrophobic, (their insolubility in water is a limiting factor); this tool provides greater stability, improving its dispersion in aqueous media, and allowing a controlled release of the active compound, which increases its effectiveness in the control of pests and reduces the doses of treatment in crops and human exposure [21] [22] [23].
The polymers used in nano-encapsulation for nanopesticides are generally of natural origin, such as polysaccharides (e.g. alginate, carrageenan, xanthan gum, chitosan, modified starch), and proteins (chicken egg albumin, zein, casein, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, collagen, gelatine) [24] [25]. Coacervates of proteins and negatively charged polysaccharides have also been used for the nanoencapsulation ofvarious substances.
Clay nanotubes (halloysite) have been developed as carriers of pesticides for low cost, extended-release and better contact with plants, and they might reduce the amount of pesticides by 70% - 80%, thus reducing the cost of pesticide and also the impact on water streams [26].
Polylactide nanocomposites are characterized with high sorption capacity and enhanced conductivity properties (up to 6 or even 9 orders of magnitude) with respect to the pristine polymer (Conductivity = 1 × 10−10 S/m) [27]. These properties of nanocomposites can be applicable in the plant-soil-water interface to increase the ion transport and sorption of nutrients.
Residues of products of nanopesticides containing nano-sized or nano-formulated agro-chemicals might be present in products as consumed [28]. Moreover, the slow release of the active components in pesticides through nanocapsules or nanoemulsions implies a greater persistence in the organism and as a result, a greater risk [29].
In a study carried out by Gao et al. [30], an adhesive hollow mesoporous silica hybrid with a well-defined spherical shape was used as a nanocarrier of cyantraniliprole (CNAP) to fabricate an adhesive nanopesticide (CNAP-HMS-PDAAM). The results indicated that CNAP-HMS-PDAAM showed long-term control efficacies against Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) and Chilo suppressalis (Walker), mainly due to its strong adhesive property on rice leaves and its sustained release properties. Twenty-eight days after spraying, the efficacy of all four doses of CNAP-HMS-PDAAM was significantly better than that of Benevia (cyantraniliprole 10% EOD). In addition, the nanocarriers showed good biocompatibility and had no obvious influence on the growth of rice.
Copper-based (nano) pesticides in agroecosystems may result in unintended consequences on non-target soil microbial communities, due to their antimicrobial broad spectrum. Peixoto et al. [31] studied the impact of a commercial Cu(OH)2-nanopesticide, over 90 days, at single and season agricultural application doses, in the presence and absence of an edaphic organism (the isopod Porcellionides pruinosus), on microbial communities’ function, structure and abundance. The nanopesticide application resulted in significant changes on both bacterial and fungal communities’structure, particularly at the season application. At the functional level, a significant increase in microbial ability of carbon utilization and a significant decrease in the β-glucosidase activity were observed for communities exposed to the nanopesticide. This study revealed that Cu(OH)2-nanopesticideimpact the soil microbial community, possibly affecting its ecological role.
Nowadays, scientists are giving their attention to the application of silica nanomaterials in agriculture. Nanosilica-based fertilizers/pesticides/herbicides can improve the growth and yield of crops. Silica nanoparticles can be easily inserted into plants. It may modify the plant’s catabolism and anabolism [32].
3. Nanofertilizers
Nanofertilizer technology is very innovative. Micro-or macronutrients in nanofertilizers can be encapsulated by nanomaterials, coated with a thin protective film, or delivered as emulsions or nanoparticles [33]. The application of nanofertilizers allows to release of nutrients into the soil gradually and in a controlled way, thus preventing eutrophication and pollution of water resources [34] [35]. Nanofertilizers improve crop yield and quality with higher nutrient use efficiencywhile reducing the cost of production and thus, contribute towards agricultural sustainability [36]. Figure 4 illustrates the advantages of nanofertilizers.
Regarding the development of nanofertilizer technology, the strategy to enter the market should be directed toward the development of high-efficiency products for the major elements N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, which are applied in higher volume and that are currently less efficient and more environmentally impactful. If it is possible to apply less kg per hectare and fewer applications per season with the use of nanofertilizers, the cost of fertilization per unit of fruit yield will be significantly reduced [37].
Compared with conventional fertilizers, the nanofertilizers lower the rate of nutrient release and, on the other hand, increase their stability by aggregation or adsorption but without causing changes in chemical speciation due to pH-dependent phenomena, redox potential, and availability of ligands in the soil [38].
Examples of the aforementioned are 1) the use of nano rock phosphate that increases the bioavailability of P for plants, since it prevents the fixation of P by Fe, Ca, or silicic acid, and 2) the application of modified zeolites with high internal surface for ion exchange for the regulation of N, P, and K for plants [39].
Application of phosphatic nanofertilizers has also been linked to an increased growth rate (by 32%) and seed yield (by 20%) of soybean (Glycine max L.) as compared to those treated with conventional fertilizer [40].
SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles increased the activity of nitrate reductase in soybeans and intensified plant absorption capacity, making its use of water and fertilizer more efficient [41].
Furthermore, nanofertilizers may also be used for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance and used in combination with microorganisms (the so-called nanobiofertilizers) to provide great additional benefits. In the case of fertilizer delivery, several investigations confirmed that the application of nano-silicon dioxide with biofertilizer was useful to increase the crop yield [42].
Shebl et al. [43] have synthesized zinc, manganese, and iron nanooxides via a green chemistry technique using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with average particle size around 20 - 60 nm and small surface areas and applied as a foliar nanofertilizer on squash plants. The obtained results showed that the spraying of manganese oxide nanoparticles on the plants led to the best vegetative growth characteristics, also, the characteristics of the fruits, yield, and the content of photosynthetic pigments. On the contrary, the content of organic matter, protein, lipids, and energy gave the highest value in squash fruits that have been sprayed with iron oxide nanoparticles.
Iron and manganese nanoparticles (NPs) were biosynthesized through a simple and rapid method using bacteria supernatant containing auxin complex (indole-3-acetic, IAA) and evaluated as plant nanofertilizer. The synthesized NPs showed to be suitable as micronutrient fertilizers for crop production. Among them, bimetallic MnOx/FeOx NPs from bacterial supernatant showed the best result on plant growth, especially ingermination rates, root growth and fresh weight in maize plantlets indicating that these can be used as micronutrient nanofertilizer [44].
Foliar application of NPK nanofertilizers at a 50% rate in potato production increase production, profit, and quality compared to soil applications. The results in this study show that using lower rates of nanofertilizers as foliar application proved to be an eco-friendly environmental and economic alternative to recommended rates of chemical fertilizers with a significant increase in potato productivity and quality [45].
Abdel-Aziz and co-workers [46] investigated the possible effects of using two engineered nanomaterials nanochitosan (Cs) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) either alone or loaded with NPK as fertilizers on French bean plants. They found that foliar application improves the growth, yield, and antioxidant system of plants and biochemical content of yielded seeds than seed priming. Moreover, foliar treatment shortened the days to harvest without reducing yield by 37.5% (80 days) as compared with control and seed priming treatment (110 days). Of interest, Cs nanoparticles appeared to improve growth and yield parameters more than CNTs infoliar application treatment. They recommend the use of nanofertilizers as foliar applications.
4. Impact of Nanopesticides and Nanofertilizers on the Environment
In particular, the extensive release of nanomaterials into the environment and the food chain may pose a risk to human health [47]. The superficial area of nanoparticles and other physicochemical properties may greatly influence their transformation and bioavailability during spreading into the environment. However, there are still no fully comprehensive systems to establish the assessments for potential effects of pollution between toxicity and nanoparticles in the environment [48]. Although nanotechnology provides numerous benefits, the researchers and experts are worried about the unsafe disposal of various nanoparticles (NPs) in massive amounts (several hundred tons) every year. The recent normative documents recommend that the presence of NPs could be detected in a number of controlled objects (atmospheric air, water objects, soils, hydrobionts, algae, fungi, tissues of land plants, tissues of land animals) [49]. Until now, however, the potential negative impacts of NPs on human health have been rather speculative and uncorroborated [50] [51]. The current level of knowledge on the ecotoxicological effects of nanopesticides is scarce, especially in regard to the fate and behavior of such formulations in the environment [52].
One of the key drivers for the application of nanotechnology is a reduction in the amount of pesticide needed to assure crop protection, which may be achieved by several ways such as by improved apparent solubility, controlled release, targeted delivery, enhanced bioavailability, increased leaf adhesion [53]. Studies [54] [55] reported similar toxicity or increased pesticidal toxicity [56] [57] or similar toxicity at lower concentrations [58] [59] as compared to the conventional to nanopesticide formulations. Studies demonstrate that nanoformulations can slow down the release [60] [61]. Nanoformulations can allow a better targeting of the pest. Nanoformulations can protect from various degradation processes including photolysis [62] [63] [64] [65] [66], hydrolysis [67], or degradation in soil [68] [69] [70].
Poor use efficiency of current fertilizers is a major issue. For instance, nitrogen fertilizer, up to 50% of the nitrogen applied is lost by volatilization and another 5% - 10% by leaching [71]. Loss of fertilizers has severe environmental consequences such as eutrophication [71] [72]. Nanotechnology is applied in the sector of plant nutrition with the aim of increasing the use efficiency of current fertilizers, either by improving the delivery of poorly bioavailable elements (for example, phosphorus, zinc) and/or by limiting losses of mobile nutrients to the surrounding environment (for example, nitrate) [73]. The use of alternative growth promoters such as TiO2 [74] or carbon nanotubes [75] is also being explored. Depending on the role of the nanomaterials, and the nutrients in use, nanofertilizers can be separated into three different categories: 1) nanomaterials made of macronutrients, 2) nanomaterials made of micronutrients, and 3) nanomaterials acting as carriers for macronutrients.
The first two categories comprise nanomaterials as nutrient themselves, whereas they are additives in the third category. Some researchers refer to the first two categories only as nanofertilizers, whereas the third category is termed “nutrient-loaded nanofertilizers” or “nanomaterial-enhanced fertilizers” [46]. In comparisons of efficacy for nanofertilizers and non-nano fertilizers according to germination, plant growth or crop yield and compared with the one obtained with the corresponding conventional fertilizer. The resulting wre the median efficacy gain of nanofertilizers over conventional fertilizers was 19%, 18% and 29% for categories 1, 2 and 3 respectively. For category 2 nanofertilizers, about 20% exhibited lower efficacy than their corresponding conventional analogues. This is probably caused by the toxicity of several micronutrient elements at higher concentrations (acknowledged and addressed in most of the original papers).
The benefits of nanoagrochemicals are improving the toxicity of pesticides to their target pest by up to 20% relative to conventional analogues. Also, literature has shown that nanofertilizers may increase crop production by some additional 20% to 30% compared with conventional fertilizers, so, the advantage achieving of crop protection and nutrition with reducing the use of agrochemicals by 20% - 30% could significantly mitigate environmental contamination. There is currently no study that has evaluated the relative environmental footprint of nanoagrochemicals compared with conventional formulations. Given there is general concern about the potential adverse impact that nanoparticles may elicit in terms of both human and environmental health. More work will thus be necessary to evaluate the new risks and benefits that nanoagrochemicals represent relative to existing products.
Therefore, the requirement for current and future studies is to translate into the way of nanotechnology works (mode of action) for plant protection or nutrition, and the design of more sophisticated products that may help to reduce the impact that modern agriculture has on environment and human health, and contribute to global food security. Besides, evaluating of nanoagrochemicals against products currently on the market to avoid unjustified expectations or perceived fears associated with the nanotechnology in agriculture. Where, agriculture is in urgent need of innovation to meet the increasing demand in food, while reducing its impact on the environment. It is vital that significant research efforts are invested in the development of novel products that are competitive and have the potential to make tomorrow’s agriculture more sustainable. The responsible application of nanotechnologies can hopefully play an important role in reaching this goal.
5. Conclusions
From the previous studies, Nanotechnology is a useful tool in modern agriculture to face emerging agricultural and environmental challenges principally related to the needs for increased productivity, sustainability, and security of agriculturally produced foods. The beneficial expectations from applied nanotechnology in agriculture may be helpful to implement delivery systems for agrochemicals, improve plant breeding, reduce the impact of modern agriculture on the environment and input costs while improving the quality and quantity of yields. While, emerging concerns of nanotechnology in the agriculture sector is potential toxicological hazards and risks, including release of nanomaterials into the environment may occur when they are used as nanofertilizers and nanopesticides.
Besides all the great opportunities of application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers to allow a controlled release of the active compound and improve plant nutrition and stress tolerance to achieve higher yields, not all nanopesticides and nanomaterials will be equally safe. Although the results of the research indicate all the benefits listed in this paper, however, the current level of knowledge about the ecotoxicological effects of nanopesticides is scarce, and it is necessary to examine the risks of application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers in more detail. In this context, further biotechnological advances are required for a correct and safe application of nanomaterials in agriculture.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Cite this paper
Bratovcic, A., Hikal, W.M., Said-Al Ahl, H.A.H., Tkachenko, K.G., Baeshen, R.S., Sabra, A.S. and Sany, H. (2021) Nanopesticides and Nanofertilizers and Agricultural Development: Scopes, Advances and Applications. Open Journal of Ecology, 11, 301-316. https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2021.114022
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