Nanotechnology-enabled soil management for sustainable agriculture: interactions, challenges, and prospective

Abstract

Nanotechnology has a pronounced perspective to improve the quality of life through its applications in numerous fields including the agricultural sector. Recently, many applications of nanotechnology in agriculture including crop production and protection with emphasis on nano-fertilizers, nano-irrigation, and nano-enabled remediation strategies for contaminated soils. The functionalization of nanomaterials is a growing solution to solve and enhance many agriculture problems due to the unique physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials such as their higher ranking, status, and quality and benefit in different fields compared to traditional materials. Recently, numerous studies reported the quite promising effects of nanotechnologies on the agriculture sector. Here, this review aims to provide state-of-the-art sustainable nanotechnologies in soil management. The production routes and features of nanomaterials applicable in agricultural areas will be briefly described. The application of nanotechnology with soil content will be discussed in detail including interaction mechanisms, nanomaterials classification, and various implementations regarding soil remediation and fertility and nano-irrigation systems. The challenges for the application of nanotechnology in soil will be presented. Finally, the prospective trends will be suggested for maximizing nanotechnology performance and enhancing soil quality.