Issue 24, 2020

Synthesis, characterization and agronomic use of alginate microspheres containing layered double hydroxides intercalated with borate

Abstract

Boron (B) is generally present in soil as boric acid (H3BO3), a non-ionized molecule with weak retention in the soil and very leachable. Boron leaching may occur especially when soluble sources are applied in sandy soils in high-rainfall environments. Slow release fertilizers are important for the management of B fertilization and to obtain a desirable residual effect. We produced and evaluated the performance of a new slow release fertilizer made from alginate microspheres containing magnesium–aluminum layered double hydroxide intercalated with borate (LDH-B-ALG). LDH-B-ALG microspheres and alginate microspheres containing H3BO3 (BA-ALG) were produced using the modified complex coacervation method. The fertilizers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy. The B release test and leaching in soil columns were performed for synthetized fertilizers, H3BO3, and Ulexite. A greenhouse experiment with two responsive species (sunflower and cotton) was carried out using a factorial 2 × (4 + 1) with two soil pH (6.5 and 7.5), four sources of B (LDH-B-ALG, BA-ALG, H3BO3, and Ulexite), and a treatment control, without the application of B. The chemical characterization of LDH-B-ALG showed that LDH (powder) was successfully incorporated into the alginate polymer. The B release and leaching were much lower from LDH-B-ALG compared to conventional B sources. LDH-B-ALG was solubilized into the soil similarly to the other B sources in the greenhouse experiment. The lower release and leaching from LDH-B-ALG improved the accumulation of B in the root zone, consequently increasing the fertilizer efficiency and plant's B uptake. The new fertilizer showed be a suitable source in high-rainfall areas, especially for sandy soils, supplying B in a more adjusted way and reducing leaching losses.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis, characterization and agronomic use of alginate microspheres containing layered double hydroxides intercalated with borate

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Des 2019
Accepted
24 Jan 2020
First published
24 Jan 2020

New J. Chem., 2020,44, 10066-10075

Synthesis, characterization and agronomic use of alginate microspheres containing layered double hydroxides intercalated with borate

G. F. D. Castro, E. M. Mattiello, J. A. Ferreira, L. Zotarelli and J. Tronto, New J. Chem., 2020, 44, 10066 DOI: 10.1039/C9NJ06042A

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