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Nanocellulose (NC) were extracted from the Moroccan Alfa plant (Stipa tenacissima L.) and characterised. These Alfa cellulosic nanoparticles were used as reinforcing phase to prepare bionanocomposite films using carboxymethyl cellulose as matrix. These films were obtained by the casting/evaporation method. The crystallinity of NC was analysed by X-ray diffraction, the dimension of NC by atomic force microscopy, molecular interactions due to incorporation of NC in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) matrix were supported by Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The properties of the ensuing bionanocomposite films were investigated using tensile tests, water vapour permeability (WVP) study and thermogravimetric analysis. With the progress of purification treatment of cellulose, the crystallinity is improved compared to the untreated fibres; this can be explained by the disappearance of the amorphous areas in cellulose chain of the plant. Consequently, the tensile modulus and tensile strength of CMC film increased by 60 and 47%, respectively, in the bionanocomposite films with 10 wt% of NC, and decrease by 8.6% for WVP with the same content of NC. The NC obtained from the Moroccan Alfa fibres can be used as a reinforcing agent for the preparation of bionanocomposites, and they have a high potential for the development of completely biodegradable food packaging materials.

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The present study aims to develop a novel waterborne chitosan‐based coating formulation for slow‐release urea fertilizer. Coating formulations were elaborated by blending chitosan (Cs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (50/50, wt/wt) followed by the addition of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) at various loadings (1, 2, 3, and 5 wt% LNPs) to yield viscous coating formulations. Formulations were cast to obtain coating films on which several structural, thermal, morphological, mechanical, and physicochemical characterizations were performed. Results showed that the Cs/PVA‐LNPs (3%) formulation exhibited suitable physicochemical characteristics in terms of the hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance, reduced water vapor permeability, and tolerated elasticity making it suitable to be used for fertilizer coating. Urea granules were coated by Cs/PVA and Cs/PVA‐LNPs formulations under controlled spraying and drying conditions until a good adhesion between the fertilizer and coating was obtained. Coated granules showed a good slow‐release N property over time and results indicated that the incorporation of LNPs was beneficial since its prolonged the longevity of the coated urea fertilizer up to 18 days compared to 5 days for the neat Cs/PVA. Hence, the proposed nanocomposite system showed great potential to be used as a coating material to produce a new slow‐release N fertilizer for sustainable crop production.