Fabrication of Biodegradable Polymer Nanocomposites for Sustainable Agriculture

¹ Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
² Uttaranchal University, Dehradun 248007, India
³ Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140417, Punjab, India
⁴ Chitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh 174103 India
⁵ Department of EEE, GRIET, Bachupally, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

^* Coressponding author: karunakumar202@gmail.com
rajeev.sobti@lpu.co.in
deansoa@uumail.in
frederick.sidney.correa.orp@chitkara.edu.in
manvinder.brar.orp@chitkara.edu.in

Abstract

This research examines the production, characteristics, and possible uses of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites in the field of sustainable agriculture. By doing a thorough examination of the experimental data, significant discoveries have been clarified. The composition analysis showed differences in polymer type and nanofiller amount across various nanocomposites. The nanocomposites based on PLA had the greatest polymer content, followed by PHA, PBS, and PCL. Comparative mechanical testing revealed that PBS-based nanocomposites had greater tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break when compared to other polymers. An investigation of degradation rates showed that the nanocomposites had different levels of biodegradability. The nanocomposites based on PCL had the slowest degradation rates, while the ones based on PLA had the greatest degradation rates. In addition, the nutrient release data showed variations in the rates at which nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were released. The nanocomposites based on PBS demonstrated effective delivery of nutrients to plants. The results emphasize the promise of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites as adaptable materials for sustainable agricultural applications, such as mulching films, seed coatings, controlled-release fertilizers, and soil supplements. Potential areas for future study including enhancing production techniques, investigating innovative nanofillers, and assessing the performance of nanocomposites in real-world scenarios. Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites have the potential to enhance sustainable agricultural practices and support environmental stewardship in food production via multidisciplinary cooperation and innovation.