Use Nanotools for Weed Control and Exploration of Weed Plants in Nanotechnology

During the last decades, agriculture sector faces many difficulties due to worldwide loss by pests estimated by 30% from food production. Within this, weed caused about 13% loss, besides the ill effects of synthetic herbicides on human and the environmental health. The present chapter reviews the use of nanotools in weed management, in which many trials are being conducted to facilitate this technology for future weed management, by minimizing the costs and the environmental effects of the use of chemical herbicides. Nanoherbicides provide a good opportunity for farmers to control annual, perennial, and parasitic weeds by blending with the soil or sprayed on weed plants without the use of excessive amounts chemicals to leaving any toxic residues and environmental problems. Nanoformulations are being used in weed control, especially polymer formulation (control release or nanocapsulation) or nano-emulsions for natural product extracts, essential oils, and active ingredient (AI) of synthetic herbicides. Conventional application of herbicide is causing serious hazard for human health through water pollution. The use of nanoparticle for degradation of polluting herbicides from water sources’ aspect is also covered in this chapter. Biological synthesis is an efficient method for nanoparticles and has been used in various applications. Many researchers are focusing on using weed to find an environment-friendly technique for producing well-characterized nanoparticles which has been reviewed in this chapter.