Development and characterization of chitosan hydrogel beads for moisture control in soils

SALCEDO, F.; CASALONGUÉ CLAUDIA A.; COLMAN S. L.; ALVAREZ V. A.; TOMADONI B.; SANCHEZ L.

MAR DEL PLATA

Congreso; XVI Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros (SLAP2018) y el XIV Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros (CIP 2018); 2018

SLAP UNMDP

Hydrogels are materials which have the capacity to absorb large quantities of water, more than 400 times its weight1. Hydrogels have the ability to gradually release up to 95% of this stored water when the surroundings are dried out; and then rehydrate when exposed to water again. This process of storing water can last up to 2?5 years, time by which biodegradable hydrogel will decompose1. Therefore, the use of biodegradable hydrogels in agriculture is a good strategy for moisture control in soils and to promote better growth and yield of crops exposed to adverse conditions such as water stress, and compatible with sustainable agriculture. Among biodegradable materials, chitosan is a natural cationic polymer with hydrophilic nature and excellent characteristics for hydrogel structure. Chitosan hydrogel beads have been widely studied as carriers of micro or nanoparticles in the pharmaceutical and medical fields, where they have shown promise for controlled drug release, as well as biocompatibility with tissues and cells2. Hence, the objective of this study was to obtain and characterize chitosan hydrogel beads to control moisture in soils and crops.