A Novel, Simple Route to Produce Urea:Urea-Formaldehyde Composites for Controlled Release of Fertilizers

Author(s)

Giroto, A. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Guimares, G. G. F. ^[2] ; Ribeiro, C. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Chem, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Instrumentat, 1452 15 Novembro St, CP 741, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT; v. 26, n. 6, p. 2448-2458, JUN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Nitrogen loss through NH3 volatilization is a primary concern for urea as fertilizer due its fast hydrolysis by soil urease. To minimize this problem herein we developed a partially-polymerized urea-formaldehyde granule as a slow-release fertilizer, by melt stage process as a viable route for large-scale production. In this product the unreacted urea fraction acts as a fast release nutrient source while the polymerized fraction acts in longer times depending on the polymerization degree. This characteristic was analyzed by means of soil incubation experiments (up to 42 days), where the available NH4 (+) contents along time indicated significant lower N losses compared to conventional fertilizer, even for low-polymerized materials. Residual N in the structure was kept stored in the soil for future use by plants, as desired in many agricultural practices, showing that this simple polymerization method provides a smart fertilizer controlled by chemical structure. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/11821-5 - Study of Nanosize Phosphate Solubilization Dispersed in Matrices of Different Solubilities
• Grantee: Amanda Soares Giroto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/09343-6 - DEVELOPMENT AND AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF A NEW FERTILIZER BASED ON NANOCOMPOSITES SULFUR-PHOSPHATE MINERAL
• Grantee: Gelton Geraldo Fernandes Guimarães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral