Engineering biodegradable coatings for sustainable fertilisers
Zahra F. Islam A B * , Pavel V. Cherepanov B C and Hang-Wei Hu A BA School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C School of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
Dr Zahra F. Islam is a research fellow in plant–soil microbiomes within Theme 3 of the ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers at The University of Melbourne. Her research centres on understanding the complexities of plant–soil microbiome interactions, with a focus on isolating plant-beneficial microorganisms for use as probiotics in the agriculture industry. |
Dr Pavel V. Cherepanov is a research fellow in fertiliser coating engineering within Theme 1 of the ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers at The University of Melbourne. His research focuses on engineering fertiliser coatings for controlled nutrient release in soils with a particular focus on biodegradable materials. |
Dr Hang-Wei Hu is a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Food, and leader of Theme 3 of the ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers at The University of Melbourne. His research focuses on connecting multifaceted components among soil organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, protists and fauna) with ecosystem functions, and translating fundamental microbiological knowledge into agricultural biotechnologies. |
Microbiology Australia 44(1) 9-12 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23003
Submitted: 11 January 2023 Accepted: 3 February 2023 Published: 20 February 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the ASM. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
With the pressures of a changing global climate and ever-growing population, the need for sustainable agricultural practices that increase crop yields while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions are critical. Currently used practices to increase yields can often be problematic due to low nitrogen use efficiency or a potential overreliance on agrichemicals that can alter the community composition of a given ecosystem, although this is typically system and situation dependent. As such, the next generation of enhanced efficiency fertilisers that combine chemical, materials engineering and biological components are likely to be a game changer. Integral to their success is a better understanding of how plant–soil microbiomes interact with the new enhanced efficiency fertilisers, and how we can best tailor the fertilisers to suit different plant–soil combinations. In particular, the biodegradation properties of new fertiliser coatings must be given careful consideration so as to not further burden agricultural soils with microplastics or cause ecotoxicity problems. This perspective proposes novel, interdisciplinary strategies to generate highly efficient, biodegradable fertiliser coatings for use in the agricultural sector.
Keywords: agriculture, biodegradation, biotechnology, fertilisers, plant–microbiome interactions, polymers, soil microbiology, sustainability.
References
[1] Lam, SK et al. (2022) Next-generation enhanced-efficiency fertilizers for sustained food security. Nat Food 3, 575–580.| Next-generation enhanced-efficiency fertilizers for sustained food security.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[2] Zhang, X et al. (2015) Managing nitrogen for sustainable development. Nature 528, 51–59.
| Managing nitrogen for sustainable development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[3] Foley, JA et al. (2011) Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature 478, 337–342.
| Solutions for a cultivated planet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Dimkpa, CO et al. (2020) Development of fertilizers for enhanced nitrogen use efficiency – trends and perspectives. Sci Total Environ 731, 139113.
| Development of fertilizers for enhanced nitrogen use efficiency – trends and perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[5] Li, T et al. (2018) Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers are not a panacea for resolving the nitrogen problem. Glob Chang Biol 24, e511–e521.
| Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers are not a panacea for resolving the nitrogen problem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[6] Mazaheri, O et al. (2022) Assembly of metal–phenolic networks on water-soluble substrates in nonaqueous media. Adv Funct Mater 32, 2111942.
| Assembly of metal–phenolic networks on water-soluble substrates in nonaqueous media.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[7] Azeem, B et al. (2014) Review on materials & methods to produce controlled release coated urea fertilizer. J Control Release 181, 11–21.
| Review on materials & methods to produce controlled release coated urea fertilizer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[8] MacLeod, A et al. (2010) Evolution of the international regulation of plant pests and challenges for future plant health. Food Secur 2, 49–70.
| Evolution of the international regulation of plant pests and challenges for future plant health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Riah, W et al. (2014) Effects of pesticides on soil enzymes: a review. Environ Chem Lett 12, 257–273.
| Effects of pesticides on soil enzymes: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] Duff, AM et al. (2022) Assessing the long-term impact of urease and nitrification inhibitor use on microbial community composition, diversity and function in grassland soil. Soil Biol Biochem 170, 108709.
| Assessing the long-term impact of urease and nitrification inhibitor use on microbial community composition, diversity and function in grassland soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[11] Wang, X et al. (2021) Effects of biological nitrification inhibitors on nitrogen use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural soils: a review. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 220, 112338.
| Effects of biological nitrification inhibitors on nitrogen use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural soils: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[12] Trivedi, P et al. (2020) Plant–microbiome interactions: from community assembly to plant health. Nat Rev Microbiol 18, 607–621.
| Plant–microbiome interactions: from community assembly to plant health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[13] Hartmann, A et al. (2009) Plant-driven selection of microbes. Plant Soil 321, 235–257.
| Plant-driven selection of microbes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[14] Bulgarelli, D et al. (2013) Structure and functions of the bacterial microbiota of plants. Annu Rev Plant Biol 64, 807–838.
| Structure and functions of the bacterial microbiota of plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] Chamas, A et al. (2020) Degradation rates of plastics in the environment. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 8, 3494–3511.
| Degradation rates of plastics in the environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] Mohanan, N et al. (2020) Microbial and enzymatic degradation of synthetic plastics. Front Microbiol 11, 580709.
| Microbial and enzymatic degradation of synthetic plastics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] Ng, E-L et al. (2018) An overview of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in agroecosystems. Sci Total Environ 627, 1377–1388.
| An overview of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in agroecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[18] Liang, X et al. (2016) Beef and coal are key drivers of Australia’s high nitrogen footprint. Sci Rep 6, 39644.
| Beef and coal are key drivers of Australia’s high nitrogen footprint.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[19] Michael Beman, J et al. (2005) Agricultural runoff fuels large phytoplankton blooms in vulnerable areas of the ocean. Nature 434, 211–214.
| Agricultural runoff fuels large phytoplankton blooms in vulnerable areas of the ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Hu, H-W et al. (2015) Microbial regulation of terrestrial nitrous oxide formation: understanding the biological pathways for prediction of emission rates. FEMS Microbiol Rev 39, 729–749.
| Microbial regulation of terrestrial nitrous oxide formation: understanding the biological pathways for prediction of emission rates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[21] Chen, D et al. (2008) Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers. Soil Res 46, 289–301.
| Prospects of improving efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen in Australian agriculture: a review of enhanced efficiency fertilisers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[22] Johnston, AM and Bruulsema, TW (2014) 4R Nutrient stewardship for Improved nutrient use efficiency. Procedia Eng 83, 365–370.
| 4R Nutrient stewardship for Improved nutrient use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[23] Lawrencia, D et al. (2021) Controlled release fertilizers: a review on coating materials and mechanism of release. Plants 10, 238.
| Controlled release fertilizers: a review on coating materials and mechanism of release.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[24] Bell, LW et al. (2014) Opportunities and challenges in Australian grasslands: pathways to achieve future sustainability and productivity imperatives. Crop Pasture Sci 65, 489–507.
| Opportunities and challenges in Australian grasslands: pathways to achieve future sustainability and productivity imperatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[25] Carberry, PS et al. (2011) Innovation and productivity in dryland agriculture: a return–risk analysis for Australia. J Agric Sci 149, 77–89.
| Innovation and productivity in dryland agriculture: a return–risk analysis for Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[26] Diao, T et al. (2023) Microplastics derived from polymer-coated fertilizer altered soil properties and bacterial community in a Cd-contaminated soil. Appl Soil Ecol 183, 104694.
| Microplastics derived from polymer-coated fertilizer altered soil properties and bacterial community in a Cd-contaminated soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[27] Santos, MS et al. (2019) Microbial inoculants: reviewing the past, discussing the present and previewing an outstanding future for the use of beneficial bacteria in agriculture. AMB Express 9, 205.
| Microbial inoculants: reviewing the past, discussing the present and previewing an outstanding future for the use of beneficial bacteria in agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] Abbott, LK et al. (2018) Potential roles of biological amendments for profitable grain production – a review. Agric Ecosyst Environ 256, 34–50.
| Potential roles of biological amendments for profitable grain production – a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[29] Gambarini, V et al. (2021) Phylogenetic distribution of plastic-degrading microorganisms. mSystems 6, e01112-20.
| Phylogenetic distribution of plastic-degrading microorganisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[30] Liu, S et al. (2022) Opportunities and challenges of using metagenomic data to bring uncultured microbes into cultivation. Microbiome 10, 76.
| Opportunities and challenges of using metagenomic data to bring uncultured microbes into cultivation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
