ABSTRACT
A significant portion of pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture go unused and affect the environment in various ways. In an attempt to ensure food security, excessive usage of such agrochemicals is done. It has several detrimental impacts on the environment, human health and the economy. An improvement in the nutrient usage efficiency of fertilizers would certainly be helpful for increasing yields and promoting agricultural growth. The application of nanotechnology has a significant interest in agriculture and there is a dire need to replace conventional agrochemicals with nanopesticides and nanofertilizers. At the nanoscale, their potential is improved owing to regulated release, precise distribution, high solubility and greater bioavailability. Nanoagrochemicals may offer new avenues for sustainable development of the agricultural sector. Several nano-enabled products have been developed with smart delivery and optimal nutrient use efficiency; however, not much work has been done in this regard. Efforts are still underway to design sustainable nanoagrochemicals which are quantitatively efficient as well as qualitatively significant. In this chapter, we have tried to highlight the different methods by which nanopesticides and nanofertilizers are developed. We have also brought to light the achievements of nanoagrochemicals and the future aspects of their development. Moreover, we have also brought into account the green synthesis of nanoagrochemicals.
