The Use of Nanoparticles and Nanoformulations in Agriculture

In this review, the main potential applications of nanoparticles in agriculture, viz. nanofertilizers or plant growth stimulants, nanopesticides, carriers of conventional pesticides, and antibacterial agents are described. The information is grouped by possible applications of nanoparticles, and inside each section, where data is available, the chemical nature of nanoparticles is presented. The evaluation of the effect of nanoparticles in field is emphasized, but preliminary data in vitro are also included. It is revealed that the great majority of publications in the theme deal with plant production, looking for beneficial effects. It is possible that large-scale application of nanoparticles can lead to precision agriculture, a remarkable enhancement in agricultural productivity, and at the same time its cost would be diminished. Some envisioned risks associated with this practice are mentioned, and phytotoxicity of nanoparticles is discussed in a separated section. The main technical data, about nanoparticles characteristics, from all the reviewed literature is compiled in a table.