Porous Silica Biofiber: A Reusable, Sustainable Fertilizer Reservoir

Abstract

Nitrogen fertilizers, namely urea, are prone to leaching that causes inefficiency in crop production and environmental pollution; hence porous particles were explored for slow release. Nevertheless, discrete particles add cost; therefore, jute cellulose has been tested as twine to tether silica together for reusability. On the other hand, silica serves as an exoskeleton to give pore memory property to cellulose, which otherwise is susceptible to loss of porosity during irrigation. The composite shows ∼70% more absorption capacity in the fifth cycle than the fiber without silica coating. The urea release kinetics shows only <1/3 and 3/4 of urea release from the jute-silica composite compared to naked porous silica and cellulose, respectively. The slow and sustained release of fertilizer from the composite results in a continuous increase in the chlorophyll content in rice crops.

Functionalized Cellulose Sheets with Fertilizers Applied as Multimodal Agricultural Supports for Seedling Cultivation

“…Other nutrients such as nitrogen (N) combined with wax emulsion may also have improved the seedlings' development because of high mobility of nitrate fertilizers in soil, 43 as also proposed for urea-loaded fiber@SiO 2 composite applied for rice crop development. 64…”

“…Regardless of the number of leaves, there was a slight increase with the addition of KH 2 PO 4 , but the results remained statistically similar. Other nutrients such as nitrogen (N) combined with wax emulsion may also have improved the seedlings’ development because of high mobility of nitrate fertilizers in soil, as also proposed for urea-loaded fiber@SiO 2 composite applied for rice crop development …”

Bells and Whistles on Fertilizers: Molecular Hands to Hang Nanoporous Foliar Fertilizer Reservoirs

“…Even externally applied iron fertilizer salts quickly turn into phyto-unavailable forms because of the carbonate ions in the soil, especially in calcareous regions, which are rapidly expanding. Materials can be remarkably tuned to extended fertilizer release and bioactivity through sustainable release diffusion control and smart engineering. − Thus, organic–metal hybrid porous materials have been tested and used as carriers for agrochemicals such as fertilizers . Engineered porous silica is known to be compatible, and its transport in the plant has also been documented .…”

Eco-Friendly Urea Nanosack: Jute Grafted Silica Nanoring Woven Fertilizer to Control Urea Release and Enhance Crop Productivity

“…14 We have used porous silica as the carrier for the targeted fertilizer carrier, but not for a fertilizer coating. 15,16 For a coating or membranes, silica has been shown to give good structural stability under extreme conditions faced in energy applications. 17 To position the silica composite into a coating for controlled nutrient release, a binder is necessary.…”

“…Further, the biodegradability of the porous silicon morphology used for the controlled delivery of a neural growth factor ensures its environmental safety . We have used porous silica as the carrier for the targeted fertilizer carrier, but not for a fertilizer coating. , For a coating or membranes, silica has been shown to give good structural stability under extreme conditions faced in energy applications …”