Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, vol.14, no.9, pp.10671-10685, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The development of fertilizer technology is directed towards the production and application of slow or controlled fertilizers. In order to prevent these losses and difficulties, slow and controlled release fertilizers can be produced. Slow or controlled release fertilizers are fertilizers that can be in organic or inorganic form, in solid or liquid form, release the nutrients they contain more slowly than conventional fertilizers, depending on water dissolution, microbial decomposition, growing environment conditions, and thus provide a longer lasting effect. Thus, it is possible to provide the plant with the necessary plant nutrients during the growth period. In this study, three different elements were bound to sugar beet pulp modified with citric acid and their dissolution tendencies were investigated in different environments from the material to which the elements were attached. The dissolution trends were chosen to reflect the natural medium as best as possible. The best dissolution tendencies for all 3 elements were realized in percolations made with EDTA solutions. After the EDTA solution, the dissolution tendencies obtained in the study are followed by citric acid solution, humic acid solution, buffer solution, tap water, and pure water, respectively. The media that best represent the soil solution are tap water, humic acid, and citric acid solutions. Therefore, these two environments are of great importance for the study. It was determined that the modified sugar beet pulp binds these metal ions at the rate of 108.2, 87.1, and 45.7 mg/g, respectively, by contacting with Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ solutions for 24 h. The dissolution tendencies of this metal-bound bonded material in different environments were investigated. After the EDTA solution, the dissolution tendencies obtained in the study are followed by citric acid solution, humic acid solution, buffer solution, tap water, and pure water, respectively. The media that best represent the soil solution are tap water, humic acid, and citric acid solutions. Therefore, these two environments are of great importance for the study. In the light of these results, it has been shown that modified sugar beet pulp with copper, zinc, and manganese binding can be used effectively as a slow dissolving micronutrient fertilizer in soils with trace element deficiency.