Abstract: In recent years, agricultural engineers and chemists have turned to nanomaterials to improve traditional agriculture practices, including pesticide development. Nanopesticides are thought to be a promising course of action for reducing agricultural impacts on the environment as nanopesticides are able to effectively target pests with smaller quantities and less frequent applications compared to conventional pesticides. However, little is known regarding the fate and transport of nanopesticides, specifically their influence on wetland ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the implications of nano-Cu fungicides (Kocide 3000) and neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid) on downstream wetland habitats. The experiment was conducted using eighteen established mesocosm wetlands, each containing local soils and native wetland plant species. Mixtures of nitrogen, Kocide 3000, and imidacloprid were applied to the mesocosms at low, medium, and high concentrations. Water and soil samples were regularly collected to determine nanopesticide transformation and degradation rates as well as quantify denitrification; plant samples were collected before pesticide application and after the experiment was concluded to measure nitrogen plant uptake. The complex interactions between nitrogen, Kocide 3000, and imidacloprid were found to impact nutrient kinetic rates, and the chemical and biological processes observed in wetland ecosystems resulted in altered nanopesticide transformation and degradation rates. Findings from this study can provide insight on the fate of nanopesticides in downstream wetland habitats, as well as provide guidance for the design of best management practices for managing agroecosystem pesticide loads.
