Silica nanoparticles as novel sustainable approach for plant growth and crop protection

Abstract

Agriculture crops encounter several biotic and abiotic stresses, including pests, diseases, nutritional deficits, and climate change, which necessitate the development of new agricultural technologies. By developing nano-based fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides, and early disease diagnostics, nanotechnology may help to increase agricultural crop quality and production. The application of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) may be the solution for increasing the yield to combat the agriculture crisis in the near future. SiNPs have unique physiological properties, such as large surface area, aggregation, reactivity, penetrating ability, size, and structure, which enable them to penetrate plants and regulate their metabolic processes. Pesticide delivery, enhanced nutrition supply, disease management, and higher photosynthetic efficiency and germination rate are all attributed to SiNPs deposition on plant tissue surfaces. SiNPs have been demonstrated to be non-toxic in nature, making them suitable for usage in agriculture. In this regard, the current work provides the most important and contemporary applications of SiNPs in agriculture as well as biogenic and non-biogenic synthetic techniques. As a result, this review summarizes the literature on SiNPs and explores the use of SiNPs in a variety of agricultural disciplines.

Keywords: Agricultural-waste; Fertilizers; Herbicides; Pesticides; Silica nanoparticles.

Figure 1

The methodology of the pertinent research covered in the review, as well as the stages involved in processing the information and data contained in the publications, are represented schematically.

Figure 2

An illustration of the process of synthesizing and characterizing SiNPs in general.

Figure 3

Different routes for the interaction and transport of SiNPs into the plant system are depicted in a schematic diagram.

Figure 4

SiNPs enhance the mechanical and physiological properties of plant tissue.

Figure 5

Development of stable SiNPs for delivery system (encapsulated with carriers molecule) and their direct application.

Figure 6

General overview of SiNPs impacts on plants after foliar and soil application for plant growth and protection.