Please login first
GELLAN GUM BASED HYDROGELS AS POTENTIAL SYSTEM FOR PLANT GROWTH
* 1 , 1 , 2
1  Departamento de Investigación en Polímeros y Materiales
2  Departamento de Agricultura y Ganadería
Academic Editor: Maria Martínez Mena

Published: 31 October 2023 by MDPI in 2nd International Online Conference on Agriculture session Poster Session.
Abstract:

Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks with promising properties as release systems for fertilizers, pesticides and plant growth-promoting bacteria, as well as improving water availability in crop soils. Most commercial hydrogels for agricultural use are based on synthetic polymers. Due to the increasing attention on the use of biodegradable materials, hydrogels based on natural polymers have gained interest. In this work, the design and development of new hydrogels with superabsorbent characteristics based on gellan gum (GG) and humic acid (HA) were carried out, as an ecological alternative with potential application in the agricultural industry. Hydrogels were obtained by crosslinking the GG chains with spermidine in the presence of HA. The structural and physicochemical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated by FTIR, TGA, SEM and degree of swelling at 25 °C in deionized water. Chlorophyll quantification was evaluated in sorghum (Sorghum sp.) seedlings germinated in a growth chamber for plants at 27±1 °C and 12 light hours. The results showed that adding HA to the GG matrix increases the amount of total chlorophylls in sorghum seedlings.

Keywords: Hydrogels; Bioinoculant; Sustainable

 
 
Top