Micro- and nanostructures for controlled-release urea, boron and iron fertilizers

Aim: To develop fertilizer formulations with controlled or delayed nutrient release and low environmental risk, using lignocellulosic materials derived from agricultural waste.

Methods: The project develops controlled-release micronutrient fertilizers for foliar application, superabsorbent polymer based macronutrient formulations for soil application, and nanocomposite gel based micronutrient formulations. Our lab evaluates how well these formulations work in plants, comparing them with conventional fertilizers in greenhouse trials; lignin-based iron fertilizers, for example, were applied to soybean through the soil and the leaves and assessed by plant growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and ICP-OES nutrient analysis.

Scope: The project is project 3.1 of the TÜBİTAK 1004 LignoNANO platform, led by the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM).