Currently there are no nano-fertilizers which have been tested and approved for tea.

Studies to that effect have been suggested but to date there are no results.

Kibet and John, I tend to be in agreement with you both as a search for such information has only led me to one document, "Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka's 2012 Annual Report"  (Link attached)

...the last sentence of the 1st paragraph of this report reads, "During 2012 initial work on testing ‘Slow release fertilizer’ developed by Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnoloy [Private] Limited (SLINTEC) was tested by the TRI and stage has reached to sign a MoA to further develop the invention of SLINTEC for its application in tea fields"

...Page 23, 1st sub-heading reads,

"Three different slow releasing fertilizer products produced by Nano Technological

Institute of Sri Lanka (SLINTEC) were tested for their slow releasing characteristics

under greenhouse conditions. Field trials were initiated to establish the slow releasing characteristics in different tea growing regions for the said purpose."

...and on page 29, there is mention of;

"A collaborative project on “Soil fertility improvements using slow releasing fertilizer” was continued with Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC). The glasshouse trials were completed and establishing field trials are in progress."

Beyond this, I have not come across any information on the state of the above mentioned field trials. However, what this tells us, at least based on this information and my understanding of it thus far;

I thus request any one out there with such information to kindly share the same with me.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parliament.lk%2Fuploads%2Fdocuments%2Fpaperspresented%2Fannual_report_tea_research_institute_talawakelle_2012.pdf&ei=YTLsVPf0BcbT7Abpx4CwCw&usg=AFQjCNHoEyPNBR7zCFjO0pJ5U4mpr-tk3A&sig2=SAhYEvLoHv1Dg7VvwcRWqA&bvm=bv.86475890,d.ZGU

Hi Kelvin,

Nanopesticides are a pretty new stuff. I will bet it will take a while or a long time for the EPA or other Regulatory agencies (USA) to approve for the farmers to use on the fields. Because there are still many unpredictable and not-yet-studied factors for using it although it can be a very promising product in the future. Nanoparticles are known toxic to plants. It can be harmful for human or animals to consume the foods contaminated with them. Also, their impact on environment is unknown. Therefore, extensive studies and trials are needed before they can be approved for public to use. And all these will take time.

See this article about Nanopesticides at http://modernfarmer.com/2015/01/everything-need-know-nanopesticides/

Hi Yau,

The link you provided is a very interesting read. Indeed as the author of the article puts it;

" the potential for nano-enabled pesticides is unbelievable, but it is still a dream at the moment"

and

"the environmental fate for nanopesticides is a big, black hole"

...In the article it is clear though that quite a good number of agricultural pesticides already in shelves already contain nano-sized particles, which, by definition, would make them nano-enabled pesticides;

"An initial scan revealed that 90 percent of the dozen pesticide products Harper and her colleagues have tested contain particles in the nanoscale range. Now she has to determine whether the nanoparticles are an active ingredient, a chemical stabilizer or simply a benign component that’s been in pesticides all along, unseen until recently."

It is clear that alot needs to be done in this interesting area and it needs not be said, IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL!