Eco-Friendly Chitosan Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite for Enhanced Delivery of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Abstract Considering the vital requirement for efficient water and nutrient utilization to enhance crop production, it is necessary to implement effective strategies for managing these resources. NPK-loaded chitosan-carboxymethyl cellulose (CC/NPK) hydrogel beads were developed as an approach to enhance water and nutrient management. CC/NPK, a hydrogel with a biodegradable polymeric backbone impregnated with NPK, enhances plant growth through controlled nutrient delivery. For the CC/NPK hydrogel synthesis, CC beads were loaded with NPK, achieving a loading capacity of 94%. CC/NPK releases nutrients gradually over 20 days in water and has a water adsorption of about 38.5% in distilled water. After exposure to dry conditions, absorbed moisture was progressively released over 7 days. When placed in soil, over 80% of the hydrogel decomposed in 3 months via soil microbes. The plant study revealed that the CC/NPK hydrogel, having 25% of the conventional dose of NPK, exhibited better plant growth than conventional fertilizers.