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Biodegradable Alternatives to Synthetic Polymer Coatings in the Production of Controlled-Release Fertilizers
Summary
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.