Agricultural nanotechnology has become a powerful tool to help crops and improve agricultural production in the context of a growing world population. However, its application can have some problems with the development of harvests, especially during germination. This review evaluates nanoparticles with essential (Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn) and non-essential (Ag and Ti) elements on plant germination. In general, the effect of nanoparticles depends on several factors (dose, treatment time, application method, type of nanoparticle and plant). In addition, pH and ionic strength are relevant when applying nanoparticles to the soil. In the case of essential element nanoparticles, Fe nanoparticles show better results in improving nutrient uptake, improving germination, and the possibility of magnetic properties could favor their use in the removal of pollutants. In the case of Cu and Zn nanoparticles, they can be beneficial at low concentrations, while their excess presents toxicity and negatively affects germination. About nanoparticles of non-essential elements, both Ti and Ag nanoparticles can be helpful for nutrient uptake. However, their potential effects depend highly on the crop type, particle size and concentration. Overall, nanotechnology in agriculture is still in its early stages of development, and more research is needed to understand potential environmental and public health impacts.

The former serpentinite quarry of Penas Albas (Moeche, Galicia, NW Spain) left behind a large amount of waste material scattered over the surrounding area, as well as tailing areas. In this area several soils were studied together with the vegetation growing spontaneously over them with the aim of identifying the bioavailability of heavy metals. The potential of spontaneous vegetation for phytoremediation and/or phytostabilization was evaluated. The pH of the soils ranges from neutral to basic, with very low organic matter and nitrogen contents. There are imbalances between exchangeable cations like potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), mainly due to high magnesium (Mg) content that can strongly limit plant production. Moreover, in all of the studied soils there are high levels of cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) (>70, >1300 and >1300 mg kg−1, respectively). They exceed the intervention limits indicated by soil guideline values. Different soil extractions were performed in order to evaluate bioavailability. CaCl2 0.01 M is the most effective extraction reagent, although the reagent that best predicts plant availability is a mixture of low molecular weight organic acids. Festuca rubra, L. is the spontaneous plant growing in the soils that accumulates the highest amount of the metals, both in shoot and roots. Festuca also has the highest translocation factor values, although they are only >1 for Cr. The bioconcentration factor is >1 in all of the cases, except in the shoot of Juncus sp. for Co and Ni. The results indicate that Festuca is a phytostabilizer of Co and Ni and an accumulator of Cr, while Juncus sp. is suitable for phytostabilization.