Chinese scientists have developed a pesticide that can automatically control the release amount of pesticide by sensing temperature, according to the Hefei Institute of Materials Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences on May 4, China News reported.

The scientific result has been published by the U.S. journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Pesticide, an indispensable means of production in agriculture, plays a significant role in protecting crops from insects, diseases, and weeds, as well as in ensuring China's food security.

The pesticide use ratio in China is less than 30 percent, and the country consumes more than a million tons of pesticides per year. Pesticide waste has not only resulted in severe environmental pollution, but has endangered the health of people and livestock.

This is why Wu Zhengyan and his research team at the institute have developed herbicide granules that release pesticide based on temperature. Thermo-sensitivity can control the release of the herbicide, as it effectively adjusts the number of nano-channels in granules based on temperature.

This technology is a good solution to a common problem in agriculture, since it possesses many advantages, including a high utilization rate, low cost, high efficiency, and environmental protection.