Synthesis, Characterization and Controlled Release Pattern of Novel Fe-Containing Nanoclay Polymer Composites (Fe-NCPC) in Non-calcareous and Calcareous Soil

• Published in: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition 2023-12, Vol.23 (4), p.6139-6154
• Main Authors: Rokana, Satdev, Mandal, Nintu, Singh, Mahendra, Pradhan, Amit Kumar, Ghosh, Mainak, Sadhu, Souvik, Kumari, Shruti, Kumar, Rakesh, Kumar, Vinay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Acrylamide; Acrylic acid; Agriculture; Ammonium; Ammonium peroxodisulfate; Aspect ratio; Bentonite; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Calcareous soils; Controlled release; Copolymers; Copper; Diffusion barriers; Ecology; Efficiency; Environment; Fourier transforms; Incubation; Infrared spectra; Iron; Iron deficiency; Iron sulfates; Life Sciences; Manganese; Methylene bisacrylamide; Micronutrients; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nutrient deficiency; Original Paper; Oxidation; Plant Sciences; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Scanning electron microscopy; Sea level; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil types; Soils; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0718-9508; 0718-9516
• DOI: 10.1007/s42729-023-01471-5

Iron deficiency is a widespread phenomenon globally. Iron sulphate (FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O) reported to have very low use efficiency (2–5%). Hence, technological interventions in increasing Fe use efficiency are of utmost important. Nanotechnological interventions in the development of novel Fe fertilizers should be explored owing to higher aspect ratio of nanoparticles. Fe-NCPC was synthesized using acrylic acid, acrylamide monomers and N,N,-methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinkers; nano-bentonite as diffusion barrier; and ammonium persulfate as initiator. Fe was loaded within copolymer as FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O. Fe-NCPC contained 4.47% Fe. Fe-NCPC was characterized through scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fe-NCPC was evaluated with FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O and Fe-EDDHA in a laboratory incubation study under non-calcareous and calcareous soil . Fe-NCPC recorded the highest DTPA-extractable Fe content at 60 days of incubation in non-calcareous (37.80 mg kg −1 ) and calcareous (36.65 mg kg −1 ) soil. There was a gradual increase in DTPA Fe content in both soils with progress of incubation period under Fe-NCPC. FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O released higher DTPA-extractable Fe at the initial days of incubation; after that, it declined sharply. There was no significant effect of Fe-NCPC on other micronutrients (Zn, Cu and Mn). Fe-NCPC proved to be the most efficient Fe carrier irrespective of soil type. However, Fe-NCPC needs to be evaluated in pot experiment in terms of Fe availability, its uptake and efficiency.