Ferti-Releasing Biopolymers: a proposal of a container for the cultivation of ornamental plant seedlings.

• Grant number: 22/11028-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Soil and Water Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Claudinei Fonseca Souza
• Grantee: Rayan Nascimento Teixeira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The inappropriate management of plastic waste used in agriculture associated with the high need for soil fertilization has led to several negative impacts on the environment. Alternatives to reduce these problems have been carried out with materials that use fertilizer efficiently and without generating waste. The objective of this work is to propose a film composed of Alg/Kc/CNF that has physical characteristics, biodegradability and a controlled release rate of fertilizers optimized for use as an anthurium seedling wrapper. Anthurium has economic importance because it has been widely used for decoration of environments as an ornamental plant. The wrapped films will be obtained by "casting" and the properties of nutrient release and biodegradation will be evaluated and interrelated with the chemical structure. Biodegradation will be determined by the respirometric method of Bartha and Pramer in the laboratory and the release of fertilizers in the field will be developed inside an agricultural greenhouse through the determination of chemical analysis of the substrate. The efficiency of nutrient absorption will be determined by chemical analysis of the plant tissue and the development of seedlings will be evaluated through the dry matter of the shoot and root system, also, the height of the shoot will be checked at intervals of 15 days (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days). The material is expected to act with the dual function of protecting and providing the necessary nutrients to the seedling, minimizing the environmental impact.