Abstract
In this research, we report dextrin-based biodegradable microgels (PDXE MGs) having phosphate-based cross-linking units for slow release of urea and a potential P source to improve fertilization. PDXE MGs (∼200 nm) are synthesized by cross-linking the lauroyl-functionalized dextrin chains with sodium tripolyphosphate. The developed PDXE MGs exhibit high loading (∼10%) and encapsulation efficiency (∼88%) for urea. It is observed that functionalization of PDXE MGs with lauroyl chains slows down the release of urea (90% in ∼24 days) as compared to nonfunctionalized microgels (PDX MGs) (99% in ∼17 days) in water. Further studies of the developed formulation display that Urea@PDXE MGs significantly boost maize seed germination and overall plant growth as compared to pure urea fertilizer. Moreover, analysis of maize leaves obtained from plants treated with Urea@PDXE MGs reveals 3.5 ± 0.3% nitrogen content and 90 ± 0.7 mg/g chlorophyll content. These values are significantly higher than 1.4 ± 0.6% nitrogen content and 48 ± 0.05 mg/g chlorophyll content obtained by using bare urea. Further, acid phosphatase activity in roots is reduced upon treatment with PDXE MGs and Urea@PDXE MGs, suggesting the availability of P upon degradation of PDXE MGs by the amylase enzyme in soil. These experimental results present the developed microgel-based biodegradable formulation with a slow release feature as a potential candidate to move toward sustainable agriculture practices.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Urea-loaded microgels boosted maize germination versus pure urea.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Urea@PDXE MGs significantly boost maize seed germination and overall plant growth as compared to pure urea fertilizer.”
Claim · model-written summary
Urea-loaded microgels boosted overall maize growth versus pure urea.
- Treatment
- Urea@PDXE MGse0
- Outcome
- overall plant growthe0
- Direction
- booste0
- Comparator
- pure urea fertilizere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Urea@PDXE MGs significantly boost maize seed germination and overall plant growth as compared to pure urea fertilizer.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize leaf nitrogen was 3.5 ± 0.3% under Urea@PDXE MGs versus 1.4 ± 0.6% under bare urea.
- Treatment
- Urea@PDXE MGse0
- Outcome
- nitrogen contente0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 3.5 ± 0.3%e0
- Qualifier
- 1.4 ± 0.6%e0
- Comparator
- bare ureae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“analysis of maize leaves obtained from plants treated with Urea@PDXE MGs reveals 3.5 ± 0.3% nitrogen content and 90 ± 0.7 mg/g chlorophyll content. These values are significantly higher than 1.4 ± 0.6% nitrogen content and 48 ± 0.05 mg/g chlorophyll content obtained by using bare urea.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize leaf chlorophyll was 90 ± 0.7 mg/g under Urea@PDXE MGs versus 48 ± 0.05 mg/g under bare urea.
- Treatment
- Urea@PDXE MGse0
- Outcome
- chlorophyll contente0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 90 ± 0.7 mg/ge0
- Qualifier
- 48 ± 0.05 mg/ge0
- Comparator
- bare ureae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“analysis of maize leaves obtained from plants treated with Urea@PDXE MGs reveals 3.5 ± 0.3% nitrogen content and 90 ± 0.7 mg/g chlorophyll content. These values are significantly higher than 1.4 ± 0.6% nitrogen content and 48 ± 0.05 mg/g chlorophyll content obtained by using bare urea.”
Claim · model-written summary
PDXE MGs reduced root acid phosphatase activity.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize leaves obtained from plants treated with Urea@PDXE MGs”
e0“acid phosphatase activity in roots is reduced upon treatment with PDXE MGs and Urea@PDXE MGs”
Claim · model-written summary
Urea@PDXE MGs reduced root acid phosphatase activity.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize leaves obtained from plants treated with Urea@PDXE MGs”
e0“acid phosphatase activity in roots is reduced upon treatment with PDXE MGs and Urea@PDXE MGs”
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