Role of Biopolymers and Their Composites in Sustainable Agriculture

The world's agricultural production is facing multiple challenges as a result of shrinking arable land, global climate change, unavailability of irrigation water, and drought conditions. Moreover, undue use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop production leads to further degradation of soil properties and the soil ecosystem. Biopolymers and their composites are emerging as innovative solutions to be used as soil conditioners to improve soil physicochemical properties, increase nutrient use efficiency, and boost plant productivity. A detailed overview of biopolymer-based composites and their utilization for sustainable and precision agriculture is discussed in this chapter. The study tries to understand the influence of various biopolymer composites on different soil properties (such as soil density, porosity, water retention characteristics), various plant properties (such as plant height, root length, biomass, pigment content, stomatal conductance), and the interdependency between these parameters. A detailed description of a new generation of fertilizer-coated biopolymer composites was also presented in this chapter for the controlled release of essential plant nutrients. These biopolymer composites are often prepared from renewable resources, such as plant, animals, agricultural waste, and feedstock, making them ideal for agricultural applications due to their low cost, ecofriendliness, and excellent biodegradability. The major research gaps, future perspectives, and limitations in the current understanding are outlined, which need to be focused for promoting the development and application of biopolymer-based composites.