Challenges and advantages of electrospun nanofibers in agriculture: a review

Abstract

The application of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture has been growing piecemeal; however, it has been very limited only to the use of nanoparticles with respect to the intake, accumulation, and interaction of these in plants specifically in cells, tissues, and soils. Nevertheless, the effect of the mechanism of contribution in plants and sprouts has not been thoroughly studied. In the area of nanotechnology, the research of nanofiber materials is still considerably more limited with respect to the impact on plant metabolism. Even so, it has been observed that the fabrication of nanofibers has many advantages due to simplicity, low cost of production, high porosity, and contact surface. In this review, we will explore some applications and advantages of the use of nanofibers by electrospinning in agricultural applications mainly in growth and protection of the seeds, plants, and soils as well as in the detection of compounds.

Keywords

• nanotechnology
• nanofibers
• agriculture
• electrospinning