Nanoscale Nutrient Delivery for Hydroponics and Aeroponics
摘要
The rapid growth of the global population over the last decade has prompted the agricultural industry to enhance crop yield to meet demands, particularly in emerging nations. Soil nutrient deficiency leads to economic losses and diminishes the nutritional quality and overall grain production. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers disrupts soil mineral balance and reduces fertility, causing irreversible harm to soil structure, mineral cycles, microbial flora, plants, and food chains and potentially inducing genetic alterations in subsequent generations of consumers. Nanotechnology has become more relevant in the fields of plant biology and the agricultural sector, enhancing methods for producing nanoparticles composed of metals crucial for physiological processes. These nanoparticles enhance fertilizer compositions, improving absorption by plant cells and reducing nutrient wastage. Nanostructured fertilizers possess significant surface area, sorption capacity, and controlled-release kinetics, functioning as intelligent delivery systems for targeted areas. They enhance nutrient utilization efficiency through precise delivery and regulated release, responding to environmental stimuli and biological needs. Integration of nanotechnology with soilless hydroponics and aeroponics offers a sustainable and productive alternative to traditional methods, accelerating seed germination, promoting seedling growth, and improving plant metabolism, plant resistance to diseases, modifying plant tissue function through nano bionics, and prolonging microgreen shelf life using nanoparticles. However, ethical and safety concerns necessitate careful evaluation before implementing nano-fertilizers in agriculture. This chapter discusses hydroponics and aeroponics nano-fertilizer delivery, absorption, movement, and plant effects, addressing ethical and safety problems as the global population grows and food demand increases, demanding creative and sustainable farming methods like nanotechnology.