Ndukwu M C, Ikechukwu-Edeh C E, Nwakuba N R, Okosa I, Horsefall I T, Orji F N
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, Nigeria.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Mater Sci Energy Technol. 2020;3:690-699. doi: 10.1016/j.mset.2020.07.006. Epub 2020 Aug 10.
The discovery of nanomaterials has flagged off crucial research and innovations in science and engineering. Its unique properties and diverse applications present it as the material for the future. The aim of this study is to presents the relative applications of nanomaterial in some aspects of agriculture production. The study discussed nanotechnology applicability in climate control and photosynthesis in the greenhouse farming, hydroponic systems, solar drying, fabrication of crop processing machine components, oxygen scavengers in crop packaging, and micro-organism stimulant in anaerobic digestion for agro biomass conversion. Some highlights from the review revealed that Nanotechnology can be applied to increase water surface area to volume ratio and heat transfer in the air moving into a greenhouse farming. Water cluster can be changed when treated with nanoparticles through ultraviolet absorption spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy resulting in lower micelles to manipulate water delivery in green house farming. Nano-fluids or Nano-composites can be used to recombine the reactive parts of thermal storage materials after broken at elevated temperature to recover the stored heat for drying purpose during the off-sunshine periods in solar drying of crops. Nanomaterials can be a source of electroluminescence light in hydroponic system and act as coatings and surface hardener in crop processing machinery for post-harvest machines. The reviewed work showed that nanotechnologies has good prospect in adding value in agricultural production in the aspects discussed.
纳米材料的发现引发了科学与工程领域的关键研究和创新。其独特的性质和多样的应用使其成为未来的材料。本研究旨在介绍纳米材料在农业生产某些方面的相关应用。该研究讨论了纳米技术在温室种植的气候控制和光合作用、水培系统、太阳能干燥、农作物加工机器部件制造、作物包装中的氧气清除剂以及用于农业生物质转化的厌氧消化中的微生物刺激剂等方面的适用性。该综述的一些要点表明，纳米技术可用于增加进入温室种植的空气中水的表面积与体积比以及热传递。通过紫外线吸收光谱和核磁共振（NMR）光谱用纳米颗粒处理水时，水团簇会发生变化，从而产生更低的胶束以控制温室种植中的水分输送。纳米流体或纳米复合材料可用于在高温下破碎后重新组合储热材料的活性部分，以便在作物太阳能干燥的非日照时段回收储存的热量用于干燥。纳米材料可以是水培系统中电致发光光的来源，并可作为收获后作物加工机械的涂层和表面硬化剂。综述的工作表明，纳米技术在所讨论的方面为农业生产增值具有良好前景。
