Abstract:
Nanoscale particles can be used to improve overall plant growth and development due to its slow release, better absorption and targeted delivery. They are eco-friendly, high efficient, required lower quantity with minimum expenditure. They may be an excellent material for sustainable farming under extreme weather and shifting climate patterns. The material can help in smart water use, soil health improvement, carbon sequestration, nutrient use efficiency, plant protection and early detection of pest and disease stress. Under adverse conditions they may protect the air and water pollution, help to reduce agricultural run-off as well as environmental health risk. They may prolong the duration of nutrient supply to the plants as compared to the chemical fertilizer resulted less frequency of application. They help in the improvement of beneficial enzyme activities in the rhizosphere even under adverse climatic conditions. They may prevent the membrane damage and lowered the superoxide dismutase activities resulted plants to make them more stress tolerant. Nanoscale particles can efficiently be used as protectants, carriers and seed coating. It may also help in soil aggregation; moisture retention and carbon build up under very adverse soil conditions. A large number of field experiments were conducted under very harsh arid environments on cereals, legumes, oilseed and vegetable crops resulted 12-54% improvement in crop yield as compared to the recommended doses of chemical fertilizers and 10-15% more soil moisture retention. Recommended doses of nanoscale fertilizer were found to be safe for plant and animal health as well as to maintain plant genetic characters. Overall it may serve as an excellent innovation under climate-resilient agriculture.