New Environment-Friendly Use of Wheat Straw in Slow-Release Fertilizer Formulations with the Function of Superabsorbent

Abstract

With the aim of improving fertilizer use efficiency and minimizing the negative impact on the environment, a new double-coated slow-release nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer with water retention was prepared. Wheat straw was introduced into the formulations as the basic coating material. Specifically, poly(acrylic acid-co-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide)/wheat straw superabsorbent composite was used as the outer coating, and wheat straw/sodium alginate blends was used as the inner coating. The degradation of the superabsorbent composite in the soil solution was studied. The impact of the content of wheat straw on the extent of degradation in cellulase solution was also examined. The superabsorbent composite synthesized under the optimal conditions showed super water absorbency and excellent degradability. The water-retention property and the nutrient slowrelease behavior of the product were investigated. The results revealed that the product with water-retention and slow-release capacity, being economical, nontoxic in soil, and eco-friendly, could find good application in agriculture and horticulture.

Encapsulation and characterization of slow-release microbial fertilizer from the composites of bentonite and alginate

“…This explanation is further supported by the positive correlation between cell release and swelling ratio of the capsules. These results are in agreement with the slow-release behavior of fertilizer studied by Xie et al (2012). In the present study, cell release increased with alginate content.…”

“…Alginates and bentonite have been widely utilized to synthesize controlled-release drugs (Liew et al, 2006;Kevadiya et al, 2011) and fertilizers (Xie et al, 2012). For example the use of bentonite as a filler agent in NaAlg regulated the release rate of atrazine and diuron (Flores et al, 2013).…”

Construction and water absorption capacity of a 3D network‐structure starch‐g‐poly(sodium acrylate)/PVP Semi‐Interpenetrating‐Network superabsorbent resin

“…Superabsorbent resins with moderately crosslinked 3D hydrophilic network polymers which can absorb and conserve a large amount of water, saline solutions, or physiological solutions even under the conditions of certain heat or pressure . Superabsorbents, which possess special properties superior to conventional absorbents, have extensively been applied into agriculture , medical materials , hygiene products, baby diapers, waste water treatment , and soil for agriculture and horticulture . Most of the traditional water absorbing resins, however, have the disadvantages of high price and low water absorption capacities.…”

Synthesis of a cellulose‐based hydrogel network: Characterization and study of urea fertilizer slow release

“…To ensure the proper use of fertilizers to both crop production and the environment, researchers have tried to achieve novel and efficient ways to minimize the environmental impacts . Among these ways, the slow‐release fertilizer has provided an effective means of overcoming these drawbacks …”