The
use of conventional fertilizers is associated with pollution
due to leaching and a mismatch between release rates and crop requirements
for optimal development. Slow-release fertilizers could address both
problems. Here, the synthesis and properties of a zinc fertilizer
composed of cellulose microbeads loaded with aqueous ZnSO4 are reported for the first time. UV–vis spectrophotometry
showed that the beads immersed in water released all Zn2+ in about 30 min, regardless of the initial Zn2+ concentration.
In two sandy substrates (a pure sand and a sandy loam substrate),
microprobe X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy determined Zn2+ release from beads to the substrate corresponding to count rates
of about 0.115 mm min–1 s–1, irrespective
of the substrate and with a low sensitivity for the water content,
except in a very dry range. These results indicate that these microbeads
could represent a practical and sustainable solution for efficient
nutrient supply in agriculture.
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