The Potential of Nano-Based Seed Priming for Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction

“Zero hunger” is Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which was established in 2015 by the UN (17 SDG). The official declaration reads, “End hunger, establish food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” (2015 Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030); 2022 SDG indicators- Sustainable agriculture, nutrition, food security, and rural transformation are all intricately intertwined in SDG 2 (High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 2017). The UN estimates that 690 million people or somewhat less than 10% of the globe's people, are starving, (World Population Clock, 2022)

Pest-related production deficits, depletion of natural reserves, and the effects of global climate shift are just a few of the issues facing agriculture (Kah et al., 2019; De La Torre- Roche et al., 2020). Additional concern is that traditional agricultural practices necessitate the continual application of pesticides and fertilizers, both of which are harmful to the ecosystem (Rajput et al., 2018). By 2050, the Earth's populace is expected to reach 9 to 10 billion people, implying that food productivity may need to increase by 25 to 70 percent from its current levels (Scott et al., 2018). Modern agricultural technology is required to ensure sustainability and boost yield (Panpatte et al., 2016; Fraceto et al., 2016). The existence and preservation of plant species depend on good sprouting, especially in particular environments like rangeland and farming land (Manjaiah et al., 2018). A plant's life begins with the sprouting of seeds. Drought and salt stress are also particularly dangerous during the germination stage. A plant will proceed to the subsequent growth phase if it passes these tests (Akter et al., 2018). Plant development and productivity are controlled by the rate and uniformity of seedlings, which prevent buds from being damaged by unfavourable ecological variables (Rajput et al., 2015). Seed growth and the successive development of seedlings are influenced by a variety of factors, including drought, salt, temperature, moisture, and others. (Friedrichs et al., 2019; Zahedifar and Zohrabi, 2016; Maity et al., 2018).

Since nanotechnology has uses in a variety of fields, including catalysis, materials, energy, health, and pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology has earned a terrific deal of interest in current years. Nanoparticles with a surface area of one to one hundred nanometers (nm) or larger may have applications in agriculture, engineering, and medicine. Using a variety of methods, researchers have attempted to synthesize nanoparticles extensively, including chemical, biological, and physical techniques (Ghidan et al., 2017a). These methods have a number of drawbacks because they are difficult to scale up, require a large amount of surfactants, and require nanoparticle separation and refinement from the microemulsion (surfactant, oil, co-surfactant, and aqueous phase). Green techniques for making nanoparticles from plant extracts are good because they are easy to use, don't hurt the environment, and take little time to do. According to Ghidan et al., (2017b) nanomaterials produced through environmentally friendly and green processes have the potential to enhance agriculture by enhancing fertilizers, plant growth regulators, and insecticides. Additionally, they lessen the environmental harm caused by toxic compounds. As a result, this technology encourages a reduction in contaminants in the environment (Huang et al., 2015), and the numerous uses of nanotechnology in fields like agriculture, the environment, and health have recently piqued interest (Kah and Hofmann, 2014). Small nanoparticles, in particular, are appealing for tackling challenges that are beyond the capabilities of physical, chemical, and biological methods of pest control.