Nanomaterial Properties Impact on Soil and Plant Biosystems

This book provides via Nanotechnology a new method to provide adequate and balanced food for the expected population increase. It provides sustainable solutions to confront the biotic and abiotic stresses to which plants are exposed. This book explains the effects of nanomaterials properties in the plant-soil biosystems. Nanomaterials present various effects on plants and soil resulting from their different properties such as shape, size, surface area and other physical and chemical properties. This book describes the impact of nanomaterials properties on soil microbial, physical and chemical structure and their diversity, which is reflected in the quality, water content and general health of the soil. Nanomaterial’s properties also play a role in cycling nutrients and making them available to the plant through the slow and steady release over time of smart fertilizers. Sustainability has become the main concern in the agricultural sector through the use of nanomaterials in seed preparation, foliar spraying, and adding them as fertilizer to the soil, ensuring healthier and more productive crops, improving soil health, and enhancing a sustainable ecosystem. Furthermore, it explains the impact of nanomaterials on the physiology, growth and development of plants and their various positive and toxic cumulative effects on the food chain and human health and other living beings. It consists of 15 chapters grouped in 3 parts. Part I Soil, Part II Plant and Part III Environment. The chapters present the positive and negative effects of using nanomaterials on living beings in an ecosystem. Chapters are written by an assembly of internationally recognized scientists and subjected to a rigorous review process to ensure quality presentation and scientific precision. The chapter begins with an introduction that covers similar contexts and includes a detailed discussion of the topic accompanied by high-quality color images, diagrams and relevant details and concludes with recommendations for future study directions. This book is considered a valuable reference source for professionals and researchers working on plant sciences with an interest in nanotechnology. This book is also an invaluable reference source for graduate students involved in plant biotechnology research, especially in soil science, ecosystem, plant biology, and nano-agriculture.