Abstract
Nutrient supplementation is a common practice in agriculture to increase crop productivity in the field. This supplementation is usually excessive, causing nutrient leaching in periods of rainfall leading to environmental problems. To overcome such issues, many studies have been devoted to developing polymeric matrices for the controlled and continuous release of nutrients, reducing losses, and keeping plants nourished for as long as possible. However, the release mechanism of these matrices is based on water diffusion. They start immediately for swellable polymeric matrices, which is not interesting and also may cause some waste, because the plant only needs nutrition only after the germination process. Here, as proof of concept, we tested a hydrophobic polymeric matrix based on sub-microfibers mats, produced by solution blow spinning, filled with potassium nitrate (KNO3) for the controlled release of nutrients to plants. In this work, we used the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer to produce composite nanofibers containing pure potassium nitrate in the proportion of 10% weight. PVDF/KNO sub-microfibers mats were obtained with 370 nm average diameter and high occurrence of beads. We performed a release test using PVDF/KNO3 mats in a water bath. The release kinetic tests showed an anomalous delivery mechanism, but the composite polymeric fibrous mat showed itself to be a promising alternative to delay the nutrient delivery for the plants.
Highlights
Polymeric nanofibers exhibit a high surface area and offer several possibilities for applications
Fertilizer delivery systems can be produced, and their release rate can be tuned by changing the polymeric matrix and fibrous mat microstructure [8,9]
ConPcVluDsFi/oKnsNO3 sub-microfibers were successfully obtained by solution blow spinning, exhiPbVitiDnFg/KmNanOy3 bseuabd-ms. iTcrhoeficboemrspwoseirtee sfiubcecremssafutsllsyhoobwteadinaedcobnysisdoeluratbiolen dbilfofewresnpciennining, exFhTiIbRitsipnegctmraa, npyrobbaebaldysr.eTlahteedctoomchpaonsigteesfiinbethremparotsposrhtoiownsedbeatwceoennsitdheerdaibffleerednitffpehreansecse in FeTxIhRibspiteedctrbay, pthroebPaVbDlyFreploaltyemd etoricchcahnagine.s iTnhtehehypdroroppohrtoiboincsnbaettuwreeeonf tthhee dmifafteerreianlt wphaasses exhibited by the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric chain
Summary
Polymeric nanofibers exhibit a high surface area and offer several possibilities for applications. The easy incorporation of active ingredients into polymeric fibers motivates their use as controlled delivery systems for agriculture applications once they provide a regular and continuous supply of agrochemicals to soil and/or plants, reducing eventual losses and environmental pollution [1]. Fertilizer delivery systems can be produced, and their release rate can be tuned by changing the polymeric matrix and fibrous mat microstructure [8,9]. An extensive range of materials has been produced as nanofibers by the electrospinning technique [13] This method exhibits an expensive experimental setup and lower production rates making it a disadvantageous approach for large-scale production. Solution blow spinning microfibers are extensively studied, and polymeric, composite, and ceramic fibers have been produced. We produced PVDF sub-microfiber mats, loaded with KNO3 fertilizer by solution blow spinning technique. We tested the microfiber mats as a hydrophobic matrix for a KNO3 delivery system
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