Efficiency enhancement of slow release of fertiliser
A recent work describes an efficiency enhancement of fertiliser release using nanozeolite–chitosan/sago starch-based biopolymer composite.
The study developed the slow-release fertilisers using nanozeolite (NZ) composite–chitosan (CS)/sago starch (ST)-based biopolymer. The biopolymer nanocomposite was prepared by ionotropic gelation process using sodium tripolyphosphate as a crosslinking agent.
Better growth indicators
The biopolymer nanocomposite was a considerable rise in the swelling ratio when molecular weight of CS and crosslinking times increased. The NZ–CS/ST nanocomposite showed the percentage amount release of phosphorus and urea at the 14th day to be 64.00 and 41.93%, respectively. The obtained fertiliser was applied to grow Philodendron sp., resulting in better growth indicators than the control. According the the researchers, the prepared nanocomposite can further be used as slow-release fertilisers in agriculture.
The study has been published in Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, Volume 18, Issue 5, September 2021.
