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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.
This paper reviews recent advances in the encapsulation of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers with smart polymer technologies as an innovative approach towards enhancing nutrient use efficiency and sustainable agriculture. Conventional fertilizers suffer huge losses of nutrients by leaching, volatilization, and fixation which ultimately reduce the efficiency of the fertilizer and have serious environmental consequences like contamination of groundwater and eutrophication. The smart polymer coating can best cope with this problem by regulating the release of nutrients according to environmental stimuli such as temperature, soil moisture, and pH, thus synchronizing nutrient availability with plant physiological requirements. The paper covers classification and functional mechanisms of stimulus-responsive polymers, encapsulation and coating technologies, nutrient release kinetics, the influence of interactions between polymeric coatings and soil physicochemical properties, and the influence of soil microbiota on polymer degradation. It also discusses the present problems related to synthetic polymer residues and microplastic accumulation and stresses the switch to biodegradable biopolymers like carboxymethyl cellulose, alginate, and nano-chitosan. It further reviews the economic feasibility, future research directions, and recommendations for enhancing the application of smart fertilizer technologies. In general, smart polymer-based controlled-release fertilizers are a key element of climate-smart agriculture and a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural productivity while reducing environmental impacts.
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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.
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.
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.
From Release Kinetics to Field Performance: A Critical Review of Slow- and Controlled-Release Fertilizers, Nutrient-Use Efficiency, Environmental Benefits, and Scale-Up Challenges
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This review of 130 studies finds that slow-release fertilizers work best when they match how fast crops actually need nutrients, not simply when they release nutrients slowly. It also flags a hidden downside: some coatings can leave behind microplastics or persist in soil, so environmental benefits must be weighed against these risks.
Smart and Controlled-release Hydrogels for Fertilizer and Pesticide Delivery: A Comparative Review of Synthetic and Bio-based Systems
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This review paper compares "smart" gel materials that could replace traditional fertilizers and pesticides by releasing them slowly and precisely, cutting down on runoff into our water supply. Plant-based gels break down naturally and are safer for the environment, but synthetic gels—while working better—can stick around in soil and contribute to microplastic pollution, a growing concern for human health since these tiny plastic particles can end up in our food and water. The research suggests combining both types could offer the best of both worlds, though more real-world testing is needed before these products hit farms at scale.
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