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Starch Hydrogels for Slow and Controlled-Release Fertilizers: A Review
Andrés Felipe Chamorro1, Manuel Palencia2, Enrique Miguel Combatt3
1Research Group of Electrochemistry and Environment (GIEMA), Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia.
Polymers
|April 26, 2025
Summary
Starch-based hydrogels (SHs) offer eco-friendly fertilizer alternatives by controlling nutrient release and reducing environmental impact. Further research is needed for large-scale agricultural application of these biodegradable materials.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Excessive fertilizer use degrades the environment through nutrient loss.
- Starch-based hydrogels (SHs) present a biodegradable solution for controlled nutrient delivery.
- SHs are biocompatible and non-toxic, suitable for agriculture and soil remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on starch-based hydrogels for fertilizer applications.
- To identify research gaps for developing efficient and eco-friendly SH-based fertilizers.
- To guide future research toward large-scale agricultural use of SHs.
Main Methods:
- Overview of SH formation methods: graft copolymerization, chemical crosslinking, physical interactions.
- Discussion of SH applications in controlled fertilizer release.
- Analysis of factors influencing nutrient delivery: synthesis, nutrient source, environment.
Main Results:
- SHs exhibit high water absorption capacity and tunable nutrient release.
- Various SH synthesis methods impact their performance.
- Effective nutrient delivery demonstrated in aqueous media, soils, seeds, and plants.
Conclusions:
- SHs are promising for sustainable agriculture, improving nutrient use efficiency.
- Scaling up SH production is crucial for wider adoption.
- Further investigation into SHs' environmental interactions and long-term efficacy is warranted.
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