Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Their Application in Agriculture

The use of pesticides and fertilizers has skyrocketed in the last two decades. Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides not only increases the cost of agricultural products but also harms the soil and causes pollution in the environment. Both abiotic and biotic stresses are present throughout plant growth. As a result, discovering ways to assist plants to cope with stress is essential for productive and sustainable agriculture, as well as reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture

Nanotechnology is advancing in agriculture, as nanoparticles have shown results in improving crop nutrition, reducing pests and illnesses, boosting stress tolerance, and detecting plant physiological conditions, among other applications.

Nanotechnology's key role in agriculture is to analyze products and nutrient concentration in order to improve productivity without sterilizing lands and rivers as well as to protect against a range of insects- pests, and microbiological infections.

Carbon-based Nanomaterials as Fertilizer

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) are utilized as nano-fertilizer, which is critical for the agricultural industry's development. Conventional fertilizers are water-soluble and get easily absorbed into the soil, contaminating the environment and increasing costs. According to past studies, nano fertilizers outperform conventional fertilizers by 18 to 29 percent in terms of effectiveness.

Since of their stable molecular arrangement, homogeneous dispersal, and low toxicity in application mediums, carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) can be used as effective fertilizer carriers. Graphene oxide nanoparticles, for instance, are efficient trace element transporters.

In contrast to fertilizers, pesticides are a significant component of agricultural chemicals. Conventional pesticides, on the other hand, raise concerns about biosafety and contamination among the general population due to their ease of leaching, evaporation, and loss.

Advantages of Carbon Nanotubules

Carbon nanotubes are the most efficient nanomaterials for agricultural applications among carbon-based nanomaterials (CNTs).

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) chemically altered with the aliphatic alcohol 1-octadecanol (C18H38O) were shown to have outstanding antibacterial properties in recent investigations, owing to their long carbon chains that contribute to higher microwave absorption by nanotubes (CNTs).

Carbon-based nanomaterials in agriculture strive to minimize pesticide distribution, reduce nutrient leaching in fertilization, and improve disease and pest management output. Nanotechnology has the potential to benefit the environmental and agricultural sectors by developing revolutionary pest-reduction and nutrient-absorption products, among other things.