title: Designing slow water-releasing alginate nanoreserviors for sustained irrigation in scanty rainfall areas.
abstract: In this study, water absorbing Ca(2+) ion cross-linked alginate nanoparticles were prepared and their water holding capacity was assessed. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Zeta potential measurements to gain insights into their structural and morphological features and to see if the nanoparticles carried a charge over them. The swelling experiments were performed for different compositions of prepared nanoparticles at varied pH and temperatures. The capacity of the nanoparticles to retain imbibed water was evaluated by conducting deswelling studies of the pre-swollen nanoparticles. These particles were mixed with soil and soil-pot experiments were conducted. In order to assess the sustained water release potential of nanoparticles in agricultural fields, the seeds were planted in both native and nanoparticle-mixed soil pots, and moisture content of the soil was measured periodically and growth of the plants was observed.
authors: Bose Memorial Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Government Autonomous Science College, Jabalpur, M.P. 482001, India.
authors: Raineesh
authors: R
authors: Sharma
authors: Bose Memorial Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Government Autonomous Science College, Jabalpur, M.P. 482001, India.
authors: Jaya
authors: J
authors: Bajpai
authors: Bose Memorial Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Government Autonomous Science College, Jabalpur, M.P. 482001, India. Electronic address: akbmrl@yahoo.co.in.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Bajpai
authors: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Laddakh, J&K, India.
authors: Somen
authors: S
authors: Acharya
authors: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Laddakh, J&K, India.
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Shrivastava
authors: Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Nagpur, MH, India.
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Shukla
keywords: Agriculture; Alginate; Deswelling; Nanoparticles; Slow release