ISSN 2375-1134
African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 269-277, October, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Limitations in the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nanomaterials in sustainable agriculture management
*Anil O. Virat, Sarojini Nanak and Viswanathan Ambani
Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Ashok & Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand-388121, Gujarat, India.
*Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 16 January, 2017
Abstract
Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture. The potential uses and benefits of nanotechnology are enormous. The current global population is nearly 7 */billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of environmental impacts or political instability, while in the developed world there is surplus of food. For developing countries, the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also maximize yield. The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials, information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well publicized. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is also getting attention nowadays. Investments in agriculture and food nanotechnologies carry increasing weight because their potential benefits range from improved food quality and safety to reduced agricultural inputs and improved processing and nutrition. While most investment is made primarily in developed countries, research advancements provide glimpses of potential applications in agricultural, food, and water safety that could have significant impacts on rural populations in developing countries. This review is concentrated on modern strategies used for the management of water, pesticides, limitations in the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nano-materials in sustainable agriculture management as modern approaches of nanotechnology.
Key words: Agriculture, nanotechnology, nanofertilizer, nanoencapsulation, nanoherbicides