Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in Sodium Alginate Matrix for Efficient Slow-Release Biofertilizers with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties

This study's objective was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing zinc oxide nanoparticles, known for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties, in combination with sodium alginate, a natural biopolymer, to produce cost-effective biofertilizer formulations with a slow-release mechanism. In this research project, zinc oxide nanoparticles were produced in an environmentally friendly manner by combining sodium hydroxide, zinc acetate salt, and a Lepidium sativum seed extract. The use of XRD and SEM enabled the confirmation of the creation of alginate nanocomposites. In addition to having nearly one hundred percent encapsulation efficiency, the alginate beads that were created were spherical in shape. The nutrients' release rate was determined using dissolution experiments in an alkaline buffer solution with a pH of 7.4, conducted at 37 °C and 500 rpm. The nutrient release was examined using UV spectroscopy with a UV–visible spectrometer. A test was performed to see how biogenic beads of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles containing nutrients would affect the growth and development of lentil plants in cotton and compost. According to the findings of the research, the beads exhibited a steady and continuous release of nutrients for a period of up to one hour of dissolution testing. For a period of three weeks in compost and cotton growth, the encapsulated nutrient beads were very effective in fostering the growth of lentils. These ZnO nanoparticles have excellent properties that allow them to combine with alginate without getting in the way of the creation of alginate gel beads when they crosslink with Ca²⁺ ions. This is the reason why the improved encapsulation approach works so well.