Synergy between castor oil polyurethane/starch polymer coating and local acidification by A. niger for increasing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization using urea granules

Author(s)

Majaron, Vinicius F. ^[1] ; da Silva, Marisa G. ^[1] ; Bortoletto-Santos, Ricardo ^[2] ; Klaic, Rodrigo ^{[2, 1]} ; Giroto, Amanda ^[2] ; Guimaraes, Gelton G. F. ^[3] ; Polito, Wagner L. ^[4] ; Farinas, Cristiane S. ^{[2, 1]} ; Ribeiro, Caue ^{[5, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Instrumentacao, Lab Nacl Nanotecnol Agronegocio LNNA, Rua 15 Novembro 1452, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Empresa Pesquisa Agr & Extensao Rural Santa Catar, Estacao Expt Itajai, Rodovia Antonio Heil 6800, BR-88318112 Itajai, SC - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, Campus Sao Carlos, Ave Trabalhador Sao Carlense 40, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Forschungszentrum Julich, Inst Energy & Climate Res Electrochem Proc Engn I, D-52425 Julich - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS; v. 154, OCT 15 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The volatilization of nitrogen (N) in the form of greenhouse gases is the most significant environmental impact associated with fertilizer use. Losses of N may exceed 50 % of the quantity applied, especially when the nitrogen source is urea. This work describes an overcoating system for urea granules, based on starch (from maize or cassava crops) and elemental sulfur (S degrees) composites applied over a castor oil-based poly(urethane) coating, biologically activated by Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The results indicated that the system provided good control of urea dissolution and reduced NH3 volatilization after 28 days by 45.9 and 64.9 % for the U4%St(A.niger) and U4%Ca-A.niger treatments, compared to the control (uncoated urea). This effect occurs from the synergy between the starch and oil-based polyurethane coatings, improving the microorganism activity, due to increased acidity production. The findings support the use of A. niger in fertilizer management and evidence the suitability of natural-based polymer coatings for controlling N delivery and reducing environmental impacts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales
• Grantee: Roberto de Campos Giordano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/18673-2 - Development and evaluation of acidity buffering systems for the volatilization control of ammonia from urea
• Grantee: Vinicius Ferraz Majaron
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 18/10448-2 - Development of biodegradable polymer blends in urea / melamine / formaldehyde / polyols system for applications as coating of agrochemicals
• Grantee: Marisa Gomes da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 18/10104-1 - Nanocomposites Preparation from Urea modified with Glycerol for optimization of Process of Controlled Release of Nutrients
• Grantee: Amanda Soares Giroto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• 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