Abstract

Nanotechnology has been identified as a promising technology to revolutionize the field of precision agriculture through the development of innovative approaches to enhance crop productivity, resource utilization, and environmental sustainability. In the present review, the application of nanosensors and nano-enabled agricultural products has been assessed in the context of modern crop production systems. A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken following the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken through major scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Google Scholar, and others. The search yielded 1,765 publications, which were later reduced to 51 studies following the application of de-duplication and screening criteria. The results of the systematic review suggest that nanotechnology has the potential to contribute to the enhancement of the efficiency of agriculture through the application of nanosensors, nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nano-carrier systems, and others. Nanosensors help to sense the nutrient availability in the soil, plant physiological parameters, environmental parameters, and pathogens in real-time, thus helping to make informed decisions in precision agriculture. Nano-enabled products help to enhance nutrient utilization, protect crops from pests and diseases, and promote plant growth through the targeted release of agrochemicals. Nanoparticles have the potential to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, thus helping to promote climate-resilient agriculture. However, the potential risks to the environment, accumulation of nanoparticles in the soil ecosystem, and their impact on non-target organisms have to be assessed to ensure the safe application of nanotechnology to precision agriculture.