Shiliang Liu1, Qinglin Wu2, Xiuxuan Sun3, Yiying Yue4, Brenda Tubana5, Rongjie Yang6, Huai N Cheng7. 1. College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States. Electronic address: liushiliang9@163.com. 2. School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States. Electronic address: qwu@agcenter.lsu.edu. 3. School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States. 4. College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. 5. School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States. 6. College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China. 7. Southern Regional Research Center, USDA Agriculture Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States.
Abstract
Novel nanocomposite hydrogels were successfully prepared by blending and crosslinking sodium alginate (SA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) in the presence of a fertilizer formulation containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The hydrogels had a macroporous flexible core and a microporous semi- interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) shell. The crystalline nature of the NPK chemicals was retained in the hydrogel nanocomposite network. Furthermore, the SA/CNF/PVA-based hydrogels showed a higher water-retention capacity in both deionized water and mixed soil. The swelling behavior in various physiological pH, salt and alkali solutions exhibited good sensitivity. The NPK release from SA/CNF/NPK and SA/CNF/PVA/NPK hydrogels was controlled by Fickian diffusion in both water and soil based on the Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics model (n < 0.5). Therefore, the prepared hydrogels have the potential for applications in drought-prone and/or fertilizer-loss regions for future development of precision agriculture and horticulture.
Novel nanocomposite hydrogels were successfully prepared by blending and crosslinking pan class="Chemical">sodium alginate (pan class="Chemical">SA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) in the presence of a fertilizer formulation containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The hydrogels had a macroporous flexible core and a microporous semi- interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) shell. The crystalline nature of the NPK chemicals was retained in the hydrogel nanocomposite network. Furthermore, the SA/CNF/PVA-based hydrogels showed a higher water-retention capacity in both deionized water and mixed soil. The swelling behavior in various physiological pH, salt and alkali solutions exhibited good sensitivity. The NPK release from SA/CNF/NPK and SA/CNF/PVA/NPK hydrogels was controlled by Fickian diffusion in both water and soil based on the Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics model (n < 0.5). Therefore, the prepared hydrogels have the potential for applications in drought-prone and/or fertilizer-loss regions for future development of precision agriculture and horticulture.