Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have created a gel from food waste to help prevent soil contamination in agriculture.
The scientific paper was published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
Global population growth and a burgeoning demand for food is leading to increased use of both agrochemicals and water for irrigation. The introduction of sustainable and greener agriculture is therefore one of the UN 2030’s goals.
According to TPU researchers, we are using far too much water and fertilisers in agriculture. Often, these chemicals – many of which are toxic to wildlife – infiltrate the soil and groundwater. The researchers have proposed developing polymeric hydrogels to serve as so-called “smart soil” additives to help prevent soil contamination, reduce water consumption, and improve the absorption of fertilisers by plants.
According to the scientists, the proposed hydrogels are completely biodegradable. A key feature of the new technology is the ability to produce gels from organic agricultural and food industry waste. Currently, 95 percent of such waste in Russia is simply thrown away.
Hydrogels can be used for more efficient and precise application of fertilisers and other chemicals, the scientists said. Ready-to-use hydrogel, once saturated with additives, can simply be spread around the roots of plants and can be used in both large scale farming and home gardening.
The study was carried out jointly with researchers from Tomas Bata University in Zlín (TBU, Czech: Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně), and Výzkumný Ústav Mlékárenský Institute and Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation (Výzkumný ústav meliorací a ochrany půdy, VUMOP).
At present, TPU scientists are making the technology ready to launch on the market and improving the hydrogels production method from organic waste.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
0.00 (0%) 0 votes
