Applied Technology Review : News

By increasing crop output and restoring and improving soil quality. FREMONT, CA:   The agricultural sector is confronted with huge issues, including rapid climate change, soil fertility loss, macro-and micronutrient insufficiency, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and heavy metal contamination of the soil. Global population growth, on the other hand, has increased food demand. By boosting crop output and restoring and improving soil quality, nanotechnology has contributed to sustainable agriculture. Agriculture utilizes nanotechnology in a variety of ways, including the following: Delivery of nano pesticides Nanoparticles carrying biofertilizers are released slowly and precisely. Genetic resources for crop development are transported. Nanobiosensors are being used to detect phytopathogens and other biotic and abiotic stressors rapidly. This article discusses modern nanotechnology applications in sustainable agriculture and how they influence agricultural development in the future. Farmers' lack of awareness and excessive use of pesticides has detrimental effects on agricultural land since harmful agrochemicals pollute surface and groundwater. Chemical pesticides can deplete the soil of vital microbes, insects, and other species. All of the preceding has a cumulative effect on the ecology, degrading it significantly. The Agricultural Sector's Widespread Use of Nanoparticles Agriculture makes commercial use of a variety of nanoparticles. The following are some of the most often utilized nanoparticles: Polymeric nanoparticles: Polymeric nanoparticles are employed in agriculture for the gradual and controlled administration of agrochemicals. Among the benefits of polymeric nanoparticles are their higher biocompatibility and low toxicity to unintended organisms. Polyethene glycol, poly(epsilon-caprolactone), poly(lactide-co-glycolides), and poly (-glutamic acid are only a few of the polymeric nanomaterials that are employed in agriculture. Silver nanoparticles: Silver nanoparticles are widely used due to their antibacterial activity against a diverse array of phytopathogens. Silver nanoparticles have also been shown to boost plant development, according to scientists. Nano alumino-silicates: Numerous chemical manufacturers employ nano alumino-silicate formulations as an effective insecticide. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles : Biocompatible, these nanoparticles are employed as a water disinfectant. Carbon nanomaterials: Improved seed germination is achieved using carbon nanoparticles such as graphene, graphene oxide, carbon dots, and fullerenes. Zinc oxide, copper oxide nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles are also employed in agriculture. Agricultural Nanotechnology for Crop Productivity Enhancement Nano pesticides and nano herbicides: To control weeds and pests, nano herbicides and nano pesticides have significantly boosted agricultural productivity. Nanoherbicide formulations contain a variety of nanoparticles, including polymeric nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles. Scientists have devised a variety of effective delivery methods for herbicides. Poly (epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles, for example, encapsulate the pesticide atrazine. This nanocapsule demonstrated effective management of the targeted species, a decreased degree of genotoxicity, and the ability to reduce atrazine mobility in the soil dramatically. Nanomaterials for the treatment of disease: Each year, agriculture suffers enormous losses due to microbiological (virus, fungus, and bacteria) illnesses. Antimicrobial nanomaterials having specific characteristics aid in the prevention of microbiological infections. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Dematophoranecatrix are more frequent pathogenic fungi that cause disease. Numerous nanoparticles, including nickel ferrite and copper nanoparticles, exhibit significant antifungal activity and benefit disease management. In treating viral infections, chitosan nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and silica nanoparticles are effective against viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus, potato mosaic virus, and alfalfa mosaic virus. Nano fertilizers: Scientists employed nanotechnology to develop a smart delivery system that would distribute nutrients to the targeted site in a slow and regulated manner, thereby addressing the nutrient deficit in plants. By increasing the availability of vital nutrients to the plant, nano fertilizers boost agricultural output. ...Read more

Summary: A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system used to collect, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and show various spatial and geographical data. Cities are enormously complicated systems that are constantly developing. Responsible growth demands extensive, nuanced, and continually updated spatial information, as well as the problem-solving abilities to use that information. Geographic information science and technology (GIST) has proven beneficial to urban planners in addressing this dilemma. Spatial data demonstrates the path to enhancing human well-being and establishing sustainable communities. At the same time, geographic information science (GIS) specialists apply spatial thinking to translate that data into meaningful insight and solutions. The Role of GIS in Urban Planning One of the reasons GIS is critical in urban planning is that it enables a better understanding of a city's existing needs and then designing to meet those demands. Users acquire a thorough perspective on land and infrastructure by analyzing geospatial data via satellite imaging, aerial photography, and remote sensors. As urban populations continue to grow and spread, the value of GIS is in its ability to compile the massive amounts of data required to balance competing goals and solve complex challenges, such as maximizing new building location or determining the viability of a waste disposal site. These sophisticated techniques assist planners in comprehending the requirements of densely populated places, but they also adapt to the examination of smaller towns and even informal settlements. The ability to perform several queries and analytics on GIS data enables specialists to assess how new buildings will integrate with existing infrastructure and comply with regulatory requirements. Users may uncover chances for resource optimization by determining the optimal locations for solar, wind, or geothermal energy harvesting. GIS technology enables urban planners to gain a better understanding of their data. They track changes over time, assess the viability of proposed initiatives, and forecast their environmental impact. Additionally, GIS software can display all essential stakeholders exactly how the changes on the ground will appear; assisting them in making more informed decisions. For instance, GIS software may provide representations of an area's current environmental conditions and enable users to compare the expected outcomes of proposed development plans. ...Read more

Climate-smart agriculture is not distinct from sustainable agriculture; it combines multiple sustainable practices to address the unique climate issues a particular farming community faces. Climate change is upending farmers’ livelihoods. Unpredictable weather patterns, shorter growing seasons, droughts, high temperatures, and increasing vulnerability to pests and crop diseases offer formidable challenges for smallholder farmers worldwide—particularly in the tropics, where people rely more on natural resources. Climate-smart agriculture approaches can assist farmers in adapting to and preparing for adverse effects, thereby preserving—and even improving—their livelihoods. The following are some of the sectors in which climate-smart methods can be implemented: MANAGEMENT OF THE CROP Climate-smart policies adapted to a given region, farming community, or even individual farm can be determined following climate impacts and risks assessment. Pruning is critical in cocoa, for example. Still, it must be done following local climate risks: When there is heavy rainfall, pruning should be done more frequently to maintain healthier, faster-recovering trees, whereas during protracted dry seasons, a farmer should avoid pruning so heavily that primary branches and trunks receive excessive sunlight. Harvesting and fermenting (in the case of cocoa) also require various procedures depending on the climate. To dry beans in heavy rains or high moisture, essential sun dryers made of wood frames and plastic sheets can be constructed. MANAGEMENT OF PEST AND DISEASE Global warming can result in the emergence of pests and illnesses that can significantly lower harvests and even destroy entire farms.  Climate-smart agricultural training equips farmers with the information necessary to apply the appropriate amount of pesticides at the appropriate time of year to tackle these newly increasing pests. Farmers in all temperature zones utilize manual weeding as much as possible, targeting noxious weeds while allowing soft weeds to replenish the soil and prevent nutrient-rich topsoil from eroding. Check Out:  Agri Business Review SOIL MANAGEMENT Heavy rains, particularly on sloping slopes, can wash away the topsoil. Planting ground cover helps preserve the soil in heavy rains—and it's also highly beneficial in drought-prone places since it aids in moisture retention. Farmers can construct drainage systems in flood-prone locations to prevent nutrient-rich topsoil from being carried away; trenches can also assist regulate excess water and keep soil in place. Planting on contours, such as hills or natural terraces, also helps to reduce soil erosion. Mulching—the process of incorporating organic matter from crop waste into the soil—can also be beneficial. All techniques that enhance soil quality and structure also increase production, which is a primary objective of climate-smart agriculture. Additionally, healthy soils act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and removing it from the environment, thereby assisting in the fight against climate change. ...Read more