A team from IIT Mandi creates biodegradable microgels

A group of researchers at IIT-Mandi have created multifunctional smart microgels based on natural polymers, which represents a major advancement in sustainable agriculture. These microgels provide a potential way to improve crop nutrition while reducing harmful environmental effects since they were designed to deliver nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers over a prolonged period of time.

“As global populations surge towards an estimated 10 billion by 2050, ensuring food security has become increasingly critical,” an IIT-Mandi spokeswoman said. Fertilizers are a major factor in increasing crop output, and agriculture is a key component in satisfying this need. The inefficiency of conventional phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizers, whose absorption rates may be as low as 10–25% and 30–50%, respectively, makes it difficult to maximize agricultural productivity while reducing environmental effects.

In order to fulfill the increasing food demand of a rising population, modern agriculture mostly depends on the use of fertilizer. Fertilizers are vital for giving plants nutrients and increasing crop yields, however, leaching and gaseous volatilization may frequently undermine their efficacy. Thus, overuse of fertilizer not only results in expensive expenses but also poses a threat to human health, the environment, and groundwater and soil pollution, the speaker said.

According to the spokesman, it is crucial to develop technical solutions that delay the release of fertilizer in order to promote the transition to sustainable agricultural methods.

Dr. Garima Agrawal oversaw the study team, which included Ankita Dhiman, Piyush Thaper, and Dimpy Bhardwaj from the School of Chemical Sciences. The Department of Science and Technology and the Science and Engineering Research Board of the Indian government provided funding for the study, he added.

Assistant Professor Agrawal gave the following explanation of the study’s goals and findings: “We have produced natural polymer-based multifunctional smart microgels for the delayed release of urea over an extended period of time. These microgels are affordable, environmentally benign, and biodegradable. They may also serve as sources of phosphorus for plants.

Because natural polymers are used to make the microgel formulations, they are biodegradable and environmentally benign. You may apply them by either mixing them into the soil or by misting them on the foliage of plants.

Comparing our combination to pure urea fertiliser, recent tests on maize plants have shown significant improvements in maize seed germination and overall plant development. According to her, “These findings pave the way for sustainable agriculture, offering a promising solution to optimizing nutrient supply, enhancing crop yields, and mitigating environmental challenges associated with traditional fertilisers.” She continued, “This sustained release of nitrogen and phosphorus helps crops thrive while cutting down on fertiliser use.”