Innovative environment-friendly liquid fertilizer bead from sodium alginate coating with IPN membrane derived from natural rubber and cassava starch

This research aims to prepare liquid fertilizer beads formed with sodium alginate (SA) (SAB) that were coated with interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on pre-vulcanized natural rubber latex (NR) and cassava starch (St) (IPN NR/St) for controlling the release of the urea solutions. The preparation of SAB at various concentrations of SA and calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions was investigated. Optimal concentrations were determined to be 1.5% and 5.0 wt% for SA and CaCl2, respectively. Subsequently, the obtained SAB underwent coating with IPN NR/St, utilizing a ratio of 1.0/1.0 between SAB and IPN NR/St, with two layers of coating. The resulting coated alginate beads (CSAB) exhibited the ability to slow down the release of urea solution, contributing to enhanced growth in Thai eggplants. Beyond efficient urea release control, CSAB presents advantages in mitigating environmental issues associated with traditional fertilizers. The study proposes CSAB as an innovative technique for the coating and controlled liquid release of organic or biofertilizers. The potential benefits extend to promoting sustainable agriculture practices while addressing environmental concerns, marking CSAB as a promising solution for organic and biofertilizer applications.