Abstract
Three phosphate glass compositions, VF1, VF2, and VF3, containing macro and micronutrients with different [K2O/(CaO+MgO)] ratio, were formulated to be used as controlled release fertilizers for tomato crop, depending on their chemical durability in water and their propriety with respect to the standards of controlled-release fertilizers. This study investigated the influence of [K2O/(CaO+MgO)] ratio variation on glass properties. For this, the elaborated glasses have undergone a chemical characterization using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, a thermal characterization using differential thermal analysis, a physicochemical characterization based on density and molar volume measurements, and a structural characterization using Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. In addition, the chemical durability was determined by measuring the percentage of weight loss and the pH. Results revealed that the glass structure and composition have the mean role in controlling the release of nutrients in water. By increasing [K2O/(CaO+MgO)] ratio, the dissolution rates of the glasses increased due to the shrinking in the rate of crosslinking between phosphate chains, accompanied with a diminution in transition and crystallization temperatures, and an increase in the molar volume. An agronomic valorization of VF1 and VF2 glass fertilizers, which showed dissolution profiles adequate to the criteria of controlled-release fertilizers, was carried out to evaluate their efficiency on tomato crops. These glass fertilizers improved soil mineral content and tomato performances in comparison to the control and NPK treatments with the distinction of VF2. The results highlight the effectiveness of these smart fertilizers toward their potential large-scale application to improve crop production and quality for high nutritional value foods.
Highlights
Approaching hunger is one of the considerable challenges of our time
This study investigated the influence of [K2O/(CaO+MgO)] ratio variation on the thermal, physicochemical, structural, and dissolution properties of phosphate glasses elaborated to be applied as fertilizers for tomato crop
We have shown that phosphate glasses can contain the majority of macro and micronutrients, and the glass structure and composition can be designed to control the durability of the glass and the release of nutrients in water
Summary
Approaching hunger is one of the considerable challenges of our time. It has many reasons and aspects, including, among other factors, increasing demand for food, changes in diet, and extreme climatic events. To increase food production, including tomato, for satisfying the increasing world population, rates chemical fertilizer used are destined to increase in the future [11]. This increase will become harmful to the physicochemical quality of soil and plant health [12]. Controlled-release fertilizers are believed to be among the most encouraging solutions to improve crop yields and quality without engendering environmental troubles [18]. These fertilizers guarantee the availability of nutrients over time. % P2O5 % K2O % CaO % MgO % Fe2O3 % MnO % ZnO % B2O3 % CuO % MoO3 5N0.0o4m3inal1C9.o9m24pos1it9i.o9n24s 9.962 0.050 0.050 0.020 0.015 0.010 0.001 %50F.0e321O3 28.49%4 M1n4O.247 7%.1Z24nO 0.036% B2O0.0336 0%.01C4uO 0.011 % M0.o00O73 0.001
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