Biodegradable PBAT/PVP Nanofibers with Herbicide Activity against Brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens) Grass Obtained by...

Although Agriculture 4.0 combines biotechnology, information technology, and nanotechnology to boost productivity and sustainability in farming, controlled delivery of herbicides is still a challenge. However, nanomaterials are drawing more interest for their potential in developing more precise controlled release systems for agrochemicals. In this work, nanofibrous mats of biodegradable poly-(butylene adipate coterephthalate) (PBAT) and poly-(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) blends containing Indaziflam were prepared by Solution Blow Spinning for control release in agriculture. Blends were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Nanofibrous mats were also analyzed for their biodegradation profile using the aerobic method of Bartha's respirometer and subjected to the simulation of the potential inhibitor in grass germination. These nanofibers had average diameters ranging from 288 to 367 nm, depending on the concentration of PVP. In this context, nanofibrous mats with varying amounts of PVP exhibited greater biodegradability compared to films. Furthermore, the nanofibrous mats with herbicides showed germicidal action on grass. Therefore, our results indicated that by controlling the amount of PVP in PBAT/PVP blends, controlled release systems of herbicides with potential uses in agriculture can be easily tailored.