title: Utilization of starch films plasticized with urea as fertilizer for improvement of plant growth.
abstract: The utilization of starch films, obtained by extrusion of potato starch with urea as plasticizer, for the fertilization of plants has been undertaken. Release rate of urea from the starch films was conducted in water conditions. The molecular weight distribution, surface erosion and weight loss of the starch samples have been determined. The evaluation of efficiency of urea as a fertilizer in the process of release from the starch films was performed under laboratory conditions based on the plant growth test proposed by OECD 208 Guideline and the PN-ISO International Standard using oat and common radish. Although among extruded starch-based films, those that contain the highest amount of fertilizer hold the most promise for a delayed release system, the time of release of fertilizer from obtained films in undertaken study was not satisfactory. All the same, in the present study effort has been made to utilize extruded samples as a fertilizer for agriculture or horticulture purposes. Urea-plasticized starch was successfully used as a fertilizer. Plant growth assessment, including determination of such parameters as fresh and dry matter of plants and their visual evaluation, has proved the stimulating effect of using extruded films on the growth and development of cultivated plants.
authors.affiliation: Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Faculty of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland. Electronic address: p.rychter@ajd.czest.pl.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rychter
authors.affiliation: Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Faculty of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kot
authors.affiliation: Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials & Dyes, 55 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Av., 87-100 Toruń, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bajer
authors.affiliation: Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Faculty of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rogacz
authors.affiliation: Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 41 Bratislava 45, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Šišková
authors.affiliation: Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Faculty of the Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapuśniak
mesh_terms: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D005308:Fertilizers; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D005308:Fertilizers; D010968:Plasticizers; D011108:Polymers; D014508:Urea; D013213:Starch
keywords: Biodegradable mulching films; Fertilizer; Slow release of agrochemicals; Starch-based polymers; Urea; Waste management