Eco‐friendly three‐dimensional hydrogels for sustainable agricultural applications: current and future scenarios

Azeem, M.K., Islam, A., Ullah-Khan, R., Rasool, A., Qureshi, M.A.R., Rizwan, M., Sher, F. ORCID: 0000-0003-2890-5912 and Rasheed, T., 2023. Eco‐friendly three‐dimensional hydrogels for sustainable agricultural applications: current and future scenarios. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 34 (9), pp. 3046-3062. ISSN 1042-7147

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Abstract

Modern world is searching for water efficient agriculture techniques as irrigation is becoming scarce. Limited water resources and more food demand are the two key challenges in agriculture. Hydrogels which can respond intelligently by pH, temperature, light, ionic strength, osmotic pressure, magnetic or electric field changes are termed as intelligent or smart hydrogels which are analogous to conventional hydrogels in preparatory methods and features. Lag phase, constant release and decay phase are three steps involved in release of nutrients from polymeric hydrogels. In fact, hydrogels act as little reservoirs of water and dissolve nutrients that are released in controlled manner anchored by plant roots via capillary action. Hydrogels also sustain optimum amount of water in water stress conditions and reabsorb water in moist conditions which ultimately increases seedling, seed germination, plant growth and crop yield. Fertilizer and salt release are majorly dependent upon pH and temperature followed by diffusion-controlled mechanism. Cross-linkers, binders and fillers play pivotal role in determining properties, architecture and hydrogel pores. In comparison to potassium (K+) and phosphate (PO4−3) ions, nitrates (NO3−1) and ammonium (NH4+1) ions exhibited faster release rate. This review spotlights application prospects of three dimensional hydrogel in agriculture. Initially, properties of hydrogels, their classification, preparatory methods, effect of natural-synthetic-polymer blending and role of fillers are stated. Afterward, hydrogel functioning, significance, advantages, mechanism of fertilizer release and agriculture specific applications of hydrogels are comprehensively described. In conclusion, extraordinary biocompatible, cheaper, stable, biodegradable, durable, non-toxic and re-wettable characteristics of hydrogel systems motivated their utilization in agronomical applications.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Polymers for Advanced Technologies
Creators:	Azeem, M.K., Islam, A., Ullah-Khan, R., Rasool, A., Qureshi, M.A.R., Rizwan, M., Sher, F. and Rasheed, T.
Publisher:	Wiley
Date:	September 2023
Volume:	34
Number:	9
ISSN:	1042-7147
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1002/pat.6122 DOI 1827155 Other
Rights:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Azeem MK, Islam A, Khan RU, et al. (2023). Eco‐friendly three‐dimensional hydrogels for sustainable agricultural applications: current and future scenarios. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 34(9), 3046-3062., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.6122. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jeremy Silvester
Date Added:	01 Nov 2023 10:32
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2023 10:32
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/50185

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