There is a need to develop sustainably sourced products that can address the needs for improved water retention in soils, slow the release rate of fertilizers (to prevent leaching and downstream eutrophication), and control soil pH for use in agriculture. This article investigates the use of industrial kelp solid waste extracted alginate (IW) slurries to produce soil amendment beads, potentially improving soil water retention, acting as slow-release fertilizers (SRFs), and combined with limestone controls soil pH levels. Alginate extracted from the IW was determined to have a lower guluronic (G) to mannuronic (M) acid ratio than pure laboratory-grade (LG) alginate (0.36 vs. 0.53). Hydrogels produced from the IW alginate achieved significantly higher equilibrium swelling ratios (1 wt% IW = 1.80) than LG hydrogels with similar concentrations (1 wt% LG = 0.61). Hydrogel beads were impregnated with ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride to produce potential SRFs. The release rates of K+ and NO3− nutrients from the produced SRFs into deionised water were decreased by one order of magnitude compared to pure salts. The nutrient release rates of the IW-based SRFs were shown to be similar to SRFs produced from LG alginate. Hydrogel beads were impregnated with limestone, and it was determined that the alginate-based hydrogels could significantly decrease the nutrient release rate. Using industrial kelp solid waste extracted alginate slurries shows potential for soil amendments production. This report emphasises, for the first time, the use of a crude alginate product in soil amendment formation. Further, it demonstrates slower release rates and soil pH control.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.