Abstract
The study deals with the combination of biopolymers to develop hydrogels intended for agriculture application. The aim is to propose a renewable and eco-compatible solution to enhance agrochemicals and water efficiency and contribute to maintaining soil fertility. We developed a set of hydrogels based on casein and chitosan for water retention and release of agrochemicals, in particular nitrogen fertilizer urea. The weight ratio of biopolymers, from 0.5 to 2, was investigated to understand the influence of their content on the morphology, swelling, swelling-drying cycles, and water retention in soil. The average content of urea in the hydrogels was 30% of the total weight, and up to 80% was released in the soil in 50 days. The biodegradation of the hydrogels in soil has been investigated by the burial method and monitoring the release of CO2. Results demonstrated that by increasing the content of chitosan, the biodegradation time is prolonged up to 20% in 90 days. The obtained results support the ultimate purpose of the work that the combination of two biopolymers at proper weight ratio could be a valid alternative of the marketed hydrogels with the final goal to promote soil fertility and water retention and prolong biodegradation.
Highlights
In agriculture, water and fertilizer distribution represent a key point to maintain soil fertility, improving production yield and harvest quality
A set of composite hydrogels based on chitosan and casein were prepared as urea
The chitosan and casein content in the hydrogel repreA set of composite hydrogels based on chitosan and casein were prepared as urea sents the variable during the preparation, and the impact of the hydrogel’s performance carriers and for soil conditioning
Summary
Water and fertilizer distribution represent a key point to maintain soil fertility, improving production yield and harvest quality. There are several issues related to the significant amount of fertilizer and water lost through volatilization and leaching when applied in large-scale agriculture. Such losses strongly impact the final cost of agriculture products and lead to long-term environmental pollution [1,2]. A promising alternative to currently marketed hydrogels based on polyacrylates could come from natural polymers and biopolymers, which are biodegradable, abundant, renewable, and sometimes available at lower cost [9]. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly hydrogels can be obtained from a large number of biopolymers, including those of food origin like proteins and polysaccharides [10]. The benefits of using food-grade materials include safety, low cost, and wide commercial availability
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