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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Water‐soluble polymers in agriculture: xanthan gum as eco‐friendly alternative to synthetics
ClearMultifunctional xanthan gum/wood fibers based hydrogels as novel topsoil covers for forestry and agricultural applications
Researchers developed biodegradable hydrogel ground covers made from xanthan gum (a natural thickener) and wood fibers, crosslinked with natural acids, that can absorb and retain water in dry soils while degrading naturally within months. These bio-based materials offer a sustainable, plastic-free alternative to conventional polypropylene mulching films used in agriculture and reforestation.
Significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their applications in agriculture: a review in perspective of synthesis and their degree of swelling for water holding
Researchers reviewed the development and agricultural applications of hydrogels made from natural biopolymers, which are biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These hydrogels can retain large amounts of water and deliver nutrients or active compounds to soil in a controlled way. The study suggests that biopolymer hydrogels could help improve crop yields while reducing the environmental burden of synthetic plastic materials in agriculture.
Polymeric Hydrogelsin Agriculture: EnvironmentalPerformance, Sustainability Challenges, and Future Perspectives
This review examines polymeric hydrogels as soil amendments for climate-smart agriculture, finding that these cross-linked water-swelling networks can improve soil moisture retention, reduce irrigation frequency, and enhance fertilizer utilization, while also addressing environmental persistence and degradation challenges.
Biodegradation of water‐soluble and water‐dispersible polymers for agricultural, consumer, and industrial applications—Challenges and opportunities for sustainable materials solutions
This review examines the biodegradability of water-soluble and water-dispersible polymers used in agricultural, consumer, and industrial products, assessing how polymer structure and application context affect degradation rates and environmental safety. The authors argue that biodegradability must be evaluated in realistic use conditions rather than idealized laboratory settings to accurately assess environmental risk.
Polymeric Hydrogels in Agriculture: Environmental Performance, Sustainability Challenges, and Future Perspectives
A review assessed the environmental performance and degradation behavior of polymeric hydrogels used in agriculture as soil moisture-retaining agents. The study raises concerns about whether these materials break down safely or contribute to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils.
Recent trends in the application of films and coatings based on starch, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, xanthan, gellan, pullulan, Arabic gum, alginate, pectin, and carrageenan in food packaging
This review covers the latest advances in using natural polysaccharides like starch, chitosan, and cellulose to create biodegradable food packaging as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Replacing conventional plastic packaging with these biopolymer-based materials could help reduce the generation of microplastics that contaminate food and ultimately enter the human body.
Applications of Starch Biopolymers for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture
This review explores how starch-based biopolymers can replace conventional plastic products in agriculture, including mulch films, packaging, and soil amendments. Researchers found that starch bioplastics are biodegradable under natural conditions and can reduce the accumulation of microplastics in agricultural soils. The study highlights the potential of these bio-based materials to support more sustainable farming practices while reducing plastic pollution.
Fungicide‐loaded and biodegradable xylan‐based nanocarriers
Biodegradable xylan-based nanocarriers were developed to deliver fungicides as an alternative to fossil-based polymer dispersions commonly used for agrochemical application. The biopolymer-based carriers reduce risks of microplastic accumulation in soil that conventional polymer-formulated agrochemicals pose.
Applications of Natural Polymers in the Grapevine Industry: Plant Protection and Value-Added Utilization of Waste
This review examined the dual role of natural polymers in grapevine cultivation, covering their use as biodegradable crop protection agents and their potential for valorizing viticultural waste into high-value bioproducts. Natural polymers were presented as sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastic-based agricultural inputs.
Advanced applications of sustainable and biological nano-polymers in agricultural production
This review examines how sustainable and biological nano-polymers can improve agricultural practices through controlled agrochemical release, soil enhancement, and gene editing, while addressing environmental concerns about nanomaterial accumulation.
Bio-Based Polymeric Flocculants and Adsorbents for Wastewater Treatment
This review explores how materials derived from natural biological sources, such as plant-based polymers, can be used as flocculants and adsorbents to remove contaminants from wastewater. Researchers found that these bio-based materials offer advantages including biodegradability, low cost, and effectiveness in trapping pollutants through both clumping and surface binding mechanisms. The study suggests that bio-based polymeric materials are a promising sustainable alternative to synthetic chemicals currently used in water treatment.
Unveiling the potency of polymers and their environmental implications: an agricultural perspective
Researchers reviewed the expanding use of synthetic polymers in agriculture — including water-retaining superabsorbent polymers and slow-release coatings — and found that while they boost crop yields and conserve water, they also contribute to soil microplastic pollution over time. The review calls for more research into biodegradable alternatives to reduce the long-term environmental burden of plastic-based farming inputs.
Carboxylated Nanocellulose Superabsorbent: Biodegradation and Soil Water Retention Properties
Researchers tested biodegradable, cellulose-derived superabsorbent polymers for improving soil water retention in agriculture. Unlike conventional petroleum-based superabsorbents, these cellulose-based materials degrade in soil rather than persisting as microplastic particles.
Biopolymer-based nanocarriers for sustained release of agrochemicals: A review on materials and social science perspectives for a sustainable future of agri- and horticulture
This review examines how biopolymer-based nanocarriers can deliver fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently in agriculture, reducing the need for excessive chemical applications. Unlike conventional plastic-based delivery systems, these biodegradable carriers do not generate persistent microplastic pollution in farmland. The study also considers the social and economic factors that influence whether these environmentally friendly alternatives can successfully compete with conventional approaches.
Advancements and challenges in controlled-release fertilisers: An approach to integrate biopolymer-based strategies
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.
Development and characterization of a carboxymethyl cellulose-alginate hybrid superabsorbent hydrogel designed for water management in agriculture
Researchers formulated a carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate hydrogel for agricultural water retention, optimizing it to absorb over 1,600 times its weight in water while remaining thermally stable and reusable — offering a bio-based alternative to synthetic superabsorbent polymers that contribute to microplastic pollution in farmland soils.
Synthetic and biopolymers for lake restoration – An evaluation of flocculation mechanism and dewatering performance
Researchers compared synthetic polymer flocculants — chemicals added to water to make particles clump together so they can be removed — with biodegradable alternatives made from starch and chitosan for cleaning up nutrient-rich lake sediment. Biopolymers performed comparably for dewatering and left less phosphorus in the wastewater, making them a more environmentally friendly option that avoids adding non-degradable synthetic residues to ecosystems.
Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas
This review examines superabsorbent hydrogels, polymer materials that can absorb hundreds of times their weight in water, and their use in agriculture and land restoration. Researchers found that while these materials can significantly improve soil water retention and crop yields, concerns remain about chemical leaching and potential microplastic generation as they degrade. The study suggests that more research is needed on the long-term environmental safety of synthetic hydrogels in soil.
Two Fascinating Polysaccharides: Chitosan and Starch. Some Prominent Characterizations for Applying as Eco-Friendly Food Packaging and Pollutant Remover in Aqueous Medium. Progress in Recent Years: A Review
This review examines the properties of chitosan and starch—two biodegradable natural polymers—and their potential as eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastic packaging. The authors summarize recent progress in improving these materials' strength, water resistance, and pollutant removal capabilities.
Enhanced Soil Moisture Management Using Waste Green Algae-Derived Polymers: Optimization of Application Rate and Mixing Depth
Researchers synthesized water retention polymers from waste green algae and tested their effectiveness in managing soil moisture at application rates of 0-0.60% and mixing depths of 10-50 cm. The synthesized polymers achieved a swelling rate of 143.6 g/g with good reusability and thermal stability, and a 0.45% application rate combined with a 30 cm mixing depth was identified as optimal for maximizing water infiltration and minimizing evaporation in arid agricultural soils.
Application of Plastics in Promotion of Organic Farming
This review examines the application of plastics in organic farming, contrasting conventional polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene — which persist in soil and break down into micro- and nanoplastics — with biodegradable alternatives designed to be metabolised by soil microbes. The authors highlight that biodegradability depends on both polymer physicochemical properties and environmental conditions, underscoring the trade-offs involved in agricultural plastic choices.
Advancements in the biopolymer films for food packaging applications: a short review
This review covers advances in biodegradable biopolymer films being developed to replace conventional plastic food packaging, which breaks down into microplastics that contaminate soil and water. While these plant-based alternatives show promise for reducing microplastic pollution, they still need improvements in strength and durability before they can compete with conventional plastics at commercial scale.
Synthesis of a New Biocomposite for Fertiliser Coating: Assessment of Biodegradabilityand Thermal Stability
Researchers developed a biocomposite made from cellulose nanoparticles, natural rubber, and polylactic acid for use as a biodegradable fertilizer coating. Using natural biopolymers to coat fertilizers instead of conventional plastic films could help reduce agricultural microplastic contamination from plastic-coated slow-release fertilizers.
Edible Biopolymers-Based Materials for Food Applications—The Eco Alternative to Conventional Synthetic Packaging
This review examines edible biopolymer-based packaging materials including proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic packaging, evaluating their mechanical properties, barrier performance, and biodegradability for food applications.