Kinetics of slow release of nitrogen fertiliser from multi-layered nanofibrous structures

Abstract

Fertilisers are essential in modern agriculture to enhance plant growth, crop production and product quality. Recent research has focused on the development of delivery systems designed to prolong fertiliser release. This study introduces a new technology to encapsulate and release molecules of fertilisers by using multi-layered electrospun nanofibre as a carrier. Single-layer poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibres loaded with urea were fabricated using electrospinning. Triple-layer nanofibrous structures were produced by electrospinning polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) nanofibres as external layers with PLLA nanofibres impregnated with urea fertiliser as the middle layer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) were employed to characterize the morphology of electrospun nanofibres. Urea release dynamic was analysed using a total nitrogen instrument (TNM-1). The results indicated that triple-layered urea-impregnated nanofibrous structures led to lower initial rate of nitrogen release and slower release rate of cumulative nitrogen which extended for more than three months. It is concluded that triple-layer nanofibrous structures have the potential for slow release delivery of fertilisers.

Preparation and Characterization of a Plant-Nutrient-Loaded Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Mat as a Potential Slow-Release Fertilizer

“…Then, it followed a decrement until equilibrium occurred at 5 h with up to 98% of urea release. 9 Furthermore, coaxial NFs of polyhydroxybutyrate as a shell and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) with 10% w/w urea as a core were electrospun to give a urea release of <50% over 39 h. 10 In fact, this study did a comparison of the aforementioned NF against PLLA uniaxial NF loaded with urea, which released over 80% of urea in the same 39 h duration, proving the efficacy of coaxial NFs. However, it is important to note that the fertilizers with greater demand in the market are those that provide all N, P, and K, since they are the major macronutrients required by plants.…”

Biomaterials and Extracellular Vesicle Delivery: Current Status, Applications and Challenges

“…In addition to drug delivery, cells [ 232 , 233 ], growth factors [ 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 ], and genetic material [ 238 ] have been delivered using PLLA. Furthermore, PLLA has been utilized to deliver hormones and fertilizer [ 239 ].…”

Synthesis and properties of CA/ZnONPs electrospun nanofiber as seed coating to enhance germination of aerobic rice seed

“…However, adding ZnONPs through the seed priming method with 100 mg/L of ZnONPs significantly decreases the chlorophyll content of the paddy seedlings as a high amount of Zn destruct the chlorophyll structure [44]. Therefore, with the engineered morphology of electrospun nanofiber as a seed coating, Zn can be gradually released through the dissolution of material from the nanofiber, preventing toxicity caused by the large outburst of the incorporated material [45]. Furthermore, the utilization of ZnONPs in this study is also considered as a safe approach for delivering Zn as the micronutrient for the crop.…”