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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Development of biodegradable hydrogels with adjustable moisture retention capacity for agricultural applications
ClearSignificance 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A New Approach for Agricultural Water Management Using Pillows Made from COVID-19 Waste Face Masks and Filled with a Hydrogel Polymer: Preliminary Studies
Researchers developed an approach to recycle COVID-19 waste face masks as small pillows filled with superabsorbent polymer hydrogel placed near plant roots, demonstrating that the enclosed hydrogel maintained consistent soil moisture over extended periods and supported plant growth while preventing the toxic organic contamination associated with direct SAP soil mixing.
Multifunctional 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.
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.
Fabrication and Characterization of Biomass-derived Superabsorbent Bio-gel
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops and tests bio-based superabsorbent gels made from carboxymethyl cellulose as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers for water retention applications.
The effects of biodegradable mulch film on the growth, yield, and water use efficiency of cotton and maize in an arid region
Researchers compared biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films in Chinese agriculture, finding that biodegradable films improved water use efficiency and crop yield comparably to conventional plastic while reducing long-term plastic accumulation in soil. Degradable mulch films represent a promising strategy to reduce agricultural microplastic pollution.
Effects of Biodegradable Film and Polyethylene Film Residues on Soil Moisture and Maize Productivity in Dryland
Researchers found that biodegradable agricultural films are a viable alternative to conventional polyethylene mulch films, with higher degradation rates and less impact on soil moisture and maize root growth, ultimately improving grain yield and water use efficiency over a two-year field experiment.
Enhancing Soil Resilience: Bacterial Alginate Hydrogel vs. Algal Alginate in Mitigating Agricultural Challenges
This paper is not about microplastics; it compares bacterial and algal alginate hydrogels as natural soil conditioners to improve the structural and hydraulic properties of degraded soils.
Advancements in Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels: Sustainable Solutions across Industries
This review explores how cellulose-based superabsorbent materials, made from sustainable plant sources, are being developed as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic hydrogels for use in agriculture, medicine, and pollution control. These biodegradable materials could help reduce the growing microplastic problem caused by conventional synthetic hydrogels that break down into persistent plastic fragments in the environment.
From Fruit Waste to Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications
Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops biodegradable hydrogels from fruit waste (pectin and starch) to reduce water loss and slow herbicide migration in sandy agricultural soils, without any connection to plastic pollution.
Organosilanized Hydrophobic Sand for Drought Resilience: Reducing Water Percolation and Enhancing Crop Growth Conditions
Researchers developed organosilanized hydrophobic sand as a soil amendment for drought resilience, finding that the hydrophobic coating reduced water percolation losses, improved plant-available water retention, and enhanced crop performance under water-limited conditions without plastic contamination.
The Effects of Biodegradable Mulch Film on the Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of Cotton and Maize in an Arid Region
Biodegradable mulch film maintained crop growth and water use efficiency comparable to conventional polyethylene film in Chinese cotton and maize fields for the first 60 days, then began to degrade. Replacing conventional plastic mulch with biodegradable alternatives could reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils.
Impacts of Biochar Pyrolysis Temperature, Particle Size, and Application Rate on Water Retention of Loess in the Semiarid Region
Researchers studied how corn straw biochar properties and application rates affect water retention in semiarid loess soil. They found that while pyrolysis temperature had no significant effect, larger biochar particle sizes improved water absorption, and all biochar treatments increased soil porosity and field water capacity while reducing bulk density. The study demonstrates that biochar amendments can meaningfully improve soil water retention in drought-prone agricultural regions.
Exploring the Potential of 3D-Printable Agar–Urea Hydrogels as an Efficient Method of Delivering Nitrogen in Agricultural Applications
This study explored 3D-printable agar-urea hydrogels as controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers, demonstrating that the biodegradable gel matrix can deliver nitrogen to agricultural soils in a sustained manner, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fertilizer applications.
The effect of microplastics on the variability of functional parameters of available water in loessial soils
Researchers examined how different weights of microplastics affect water holding capacity and other functional water parameters in loessial soils of varying textures, finding that soil microplastic content alters water availability in ways relevant to sustainable soil ecosystem management.
Structurally engineered cellulose-based mulch film with enhanced hydrophobicity and strength for green agriculture
This paper develops a cellulose-based mulch film coated with starch and a silane compound to mimic the strength and water resistance of conventional plastic agricultural film, achieving a water contact angle of 128 degrees (up from 16 degrees for untreated cellulose) and complete biodegradation in soil within 56 days. Unlike polyethylene mulch films that fragment into persistent microplastics in farmland, this material decomposes within a crop growing cycle, offering a practical biodegradable alternative for agriculture.
Desenvolvimento De Biocompósito Para Cobertura De Solo Em Sistemas De Cultivo Agrícola
Researchers developed biodegradable cassava starch films incorporating glycerol, malic acid, and carbon black for use as agricultural soil mulch, evaluating wettability, water absorption, moisture content, and compostability, and finding that additives reduced hydrofilicity and improved physical integrity during biodegradation tests.
Evaluating novel biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen‐efficient agriculture
Researchers designed and evaluated biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen-efficient agriculture, testing their performance in simulated tropical conditions and finding improved nitrogen retention compared to conventional fertilizers, though with some trade-offs in release kinetics.
Impact of plastic mulch on soil microbial abundance, activity, and diversity in the saline-alkali soils of Xinjiang
Researchers investigated plastic mulch options for cotton fields in the saline-alkali soils of Xinjiang, finding that biodegradable BP film at 0.01mm thickness offered the best balance of low cracking rate and soil sustainability. Long-term environmental benefits require further monitoring alongside cotton growth performance.