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Biodegradable Alternatives to Synthetic Polymer Coatings in the Production of Controlled-Release Fertilizers
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Many fertilizers used today are coated in plastic to slowly release nutrients into soil, but that plastic doesn't fully break down—it builds up in farmland as microplastics that can eventually make their way into our food and water. This review paper looks at plant-based alternatives (made from things like starches, plant fibers, and biodegradable plastics) that could do the same job of slow-release feeding without leaving lasting plastic residue behind. The research suggests these greener coatings show real promise, though scientists still need to test how well they hold up in real farm conditions before they can replace plastic coatings at a large scale.
The article examines the scientific and technological prospects of biodegradable coating materials as substitutes for synthetic polymer shells in controlled-release fertilizers. The study is grounded in the sustainability challenge facing nitrogen fertilizers, whose agronomic utility coexists with fossil-dependent production, greenhouse gas emissions, persistent soil residues, and microplastic formation from conventional coated products. The article aims to assess the relevance of biodegradable coatings for fertilizer design, to examine their capacity to maintain regulated nutrient delivery, and to evaluate their environmental significance within contemporary agricultural systems. The novelty of the article lies in its integrated interpretation of agronomic performance, material degradability, industrial compatibility, and environmental fate within a single analytical framework. The review indicates that biodegradable coatings based on polysaccharides, lignin-rich feedstocks, biodegradable polyesters, bio-based polyurethanes, and hybrid systems can preserve the core release-regulating function of controlled-release fertilizers while reducing the risk of persistent polymer accumulation in soil. The main conclusion is that biodegradable coatings constitute a promising pathway for reconciling nutrient-use efficiency with improved material stewardship, although field biodegradation, mechanical durability, and scale-up constraints remain decisive research priorities. This article will be useful for researchers in agronomy, materials science, environmental studies, and fertilizer engineering.
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Advancements and challenges in controlled-release fertilisers: An approach to integrate biopolymer-based strategies
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This review examines controlled-release fertilizers, which are designed to deliver nutrients to plants gradually, and finds that many use synthetic polymer coatings that can leave microplastic residues in soil. The authors highlight biopolymers made from natural materials like chitosan, cellulose, and starch as promising alternatives that can biodegrade without contributing to plastic pollution. The shift toward biodegradable fertilizer coatings could help reduce a significant but often overlooked source of agricultural microplastic contamination.
Techniques for encapsulating slow-release fertilizers using smart polymers: Towards controlled and sustainable release of plant nutrients: A review
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This review paper looks at "smart" fertilizer coatings that release plant nutrients slowly and only when crops need them, instead of dumping it all at once, a shift that could cut down on chemical runoff into rivers and groundwater. One catch worth noting: many of these coatings are made from plastic, which can break down into microplastics in soil, so the researchers highlight the need to switch to plant-based, biodegradable alternatives (like cellulose or chitosan) to keep this "smart farming" approach truly environmentally and food-chain safe.
Controlled-Release Fertilizers: Innovations, Challenges, and Practical Applications
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This review paper looks at "slow-release" fertilizers designed to feed crops more efficiently while cutting down on runoff that pollutes water supplies. The catch: many of these fertilizers are coated in plastic to control how nutrients release, and that coating can break down into microplastics that end up in soil, water, and potentially our food. The researchers highlight promising plant-based and biodegradable alternatives being developed, but note more work is needed before these safer options are ready for widespread farm use.
Engineering biodegradable coatings for sustainable fertilisers
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This review explored engineering biodegradable coatings for controlled-release fertilizers as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic-coated products, addressing concerns about microplastic contamination from agricultural plastic films while maintaining effective nutrient delivery to crops.
Fully bio-based polyurethane coating for environmentally friendly controlled release fertilizer: Construction, degradation mechanism and effect on plant growth
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Researchers developed a fully bio-based polyurethane coating for controlled-release fertilizers using castor oil and a plant-derived chemical. Unlike conventional polyurethane coatings that persist in soil as microplastics, this coating showed strong biodegradability while still effectively controlling nutrient release. The study offers a practical solution to reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from fertilizer coatings.
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