U/Mt/Ex nanocomposite as a new ecofriendly and environment friendlycontrolled release urea fertilizer

In the new generation of slow release urea (SRUs), researchers should look for multifunctional fertilizers. These SRUs have the simultaneous ability to increase the availability of micro or macro elements. Accordingly, we designed and fabricated six SRUs. These SRUs were the combinations of urea (U), montmorillonite nanoparticle (Mt), and polyphenol-rich extract of pomegranate peel fruit (Ex) including U/Mt۱/Ex, U/Mt۲/Ex, and U/Mt۳/Ex by melting method. The effect of the mentioned treatments on the availability of plant nutrients was investigated in an incubation experiment. The results showed that the U/Ex, U/Mt۱/Ex and U/Mt۲/Ex increased the availability of P and Zn nutrients Table ۱. The SEM images showed the complete coating of the U/Mt composite by polyphenol-rich extract (Fig. ۱). Characterization of the SRUs by XRD analysis showed that the highest increase in the d-spacing of Mtinterlayers was observed in the U/Mt۱/Ex nanocomposite by ۸ Å (Fig. ۲). For urea, ۱۰۰% of urea were released in water at first hour. The urea release values for U/Mt۱/Ex nanocomposite were changed to ۴۵%, ۶۵%, and ۸۸% at ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ h, respectively (Fig ۳). These values in U/Mt۳/Ex treatment were changed to ۲۵%, ۳۵%, and ۶۸%, respectively. According to these results, we can suggest the U/Mt۳/Ex as a new ecofriendly and environment friendlycontrolledrelease urea fertilizer.