Multifunctional Environmental Smart Fertilizer Based on l-Aspartic Acid for Sustained Nutrient Release

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Conventional fertilizers face significant nutrient losses via volatilization, leaching, and nitrification.
• These losses reduce crop yields and contribute to environmental pollution.
• Improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing environmental impact are critical for modern agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an environmental smart fertilizer with enhanced nutrient use efficiency and reduced environmental pollution.
• To investigate the potential of a superabsorbent derived from poly(aspartic acid) and l-aspartic acid in fertilizer formulations.
• To evaluate the impact of the superabsorbent on fertilizer degradability and soil moisture-retention capacity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of poly(aspartic acid) and a degradable macro-cross-linker based on l-aspartic acid.
• Incorporation of the synthesized superabsorbent into fertilizer.
• Evaluation of sustained nutrient release (nitrogen and phosphorus) in soil over 30 days.
• Assessment of soil water-holding and water-retention capacities with and without the superabsorbent.

Main Results:

• Sustained release of nitrogen and phosphorus from the fertilizer was observed, with cumulative releases of 79.8% and 64.4% after 30 days, respectively.
• Soil treated with the superabsorbent exhibited significantly higher water-holding capacity (81.8% for 1.5 g superabsorbent in 200 g soil).
• The superabsorbent maintained a water-retention capacity of 22.6% in soil after 23 days.

Conclusions:

• The developed environmental smart fertilizer demonstrates sustained nutrient release, improving nutrient use efficiency.
• The superabsorbent effectively enhances soil's water-holding and water-retention capacities.
• The prepared fertilizer shows significant promise for application in sustainable modern agriculture.