IIT Mandi's Smart Biodegradable Microgels Pave Way for Sustainable Farming Practices

Recently an innovative technology has been developed by the researchers of IIT Mandi. A smart biodegradable microgel has been developed to improve the agriculture sector and to promote sustainable agriculture practices. This idea was a major step to prevent adverse impact on soil that was caused by the rapid use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides.

According to officials, the modern agricultural industry heavily relies on the application of various agrochemicals, such as insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, to meet the increasing food demands of the growing population.

Garima Agrawal, Assistant Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences, IIT Mandi stated that " These agrochemicals are extensively used in fields to compensate for their losses due to leaching, degradation, rainfall, evaporation, and dust drift. The excessive and frequent use of these agrochemicals leads to high costs and has detrimental effects on the environment, including groundwater and soil quality, as well as human health."

She further told the main aim prioritize the development of the agriculture sector, adopting strategies that will promote sustainable practices. The objective aims to minimize the rapid use of chemicals in the field that affects the quality of soil and decreases crop productivity. Additionally, she told that these chemicals when rapidly applied to the soil percolate easily and easily contaminate the groundwater.

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Agrawal explained the problem of agrochemicals getting washed away by rain and polluting nearby water sources such as lakes, rivers, and streams. To address this issue, the team has developed smart microgels made from natural polymers that can serve as a delivery system for both fertilizers and insecticides. These microgels offer an environmentally friendly solution as they are biodegradable and responsive to changes in the surrounding environment, enabling the sustained release of agrochemicals for an extended period. The chitosan-based microgels, which are sensitive to redox reactions, can release their contents when triggered by environmental changes. Additionally, these microgels are biodegradable, ensuring that they break down over time and do not cause pollution.

The developed microgels possess a high capacity to load insecticides and nutrients, allowing for their time-dependent release by taking advantage of the microgels' responsiveness. Moreover, the microgels exhibit excellent adhesion to foliage and are biocompatible, making them suitable for agricultural applications. To evaluate their effectiveness, the researchers conducted tests on pea plants and observed no negative effects on seed germination or plant growth. Consequently, these microgels present an appealing option for agriculture.

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To assess the efficiency of the microgels, the team loaded them with a model insecticide and examined their release over a specified duration. The results demonstrated that the microgels successfully released the loaded insecticide over several days, providing a sustained release that could reduce the frequency of insecticide applications. Focusing on sustainable approaches she also said that microgel is the best solution that will be able to improve the uptake of nutrients by plants.

She said that "Using redox-sensitive chitosan microgels will promote sustainable practices. These microgels are biodegradable and biocompatible as they contain natural polymer.”

-PTI

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