Designing slow water-releasing alginate nanoreserviors for sustained irrigation in scanty rainfall areas

In this study, water absorbing Ca2+ 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.