Efficient Ways of Agricultural Water Usage & Storage Technology using Controlled Release Gelatin-based hydrogel Fertiliser

Efficient Ways of Agricultural Water Usage & Storage Technology using Controlled Release Gelatin-based hydrogel Fertiliser | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Efficient Ways of Agricultural Water Usage & Storage Technology using Controlled Release Gelatin-based hydrogel Fertiliser Hassan Raza, Atya Hassan, Sadia Khalil, Faiqa Rana This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8114064/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Conventional agricultural practices in water-scarce regions like Pakistan face significant challenges related to inefficient water use and nutrient loss from traditional fertilisers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced crop yields. This investigation addressed these challenges through the development of a novel agricultural amendment. Objective The study aimed to design, synthesise, and comprehensively characterise a controlled-release hydrogel fertiliser (CRHF) capable of enhancing soil water retention and providing a gradual, sustained release of essential plant nutrients. Methodology: A biocompatible hydrogel was synthesised using gelatin, PVA, and sodium polyacrylate as the polymer matrix, with DAP encapsulated as the nutrient source. The formulation was guided by computational modelling of permutations and combinations. The final product was subjected to a rigorous analysis of its physical, chemical, and microbiological properties, including solubility profiling, thermal stability assessment, and microbial interaction studies. Results The synthesised CRHF was a thermally stable, solid material with a high melting point (150–200°C). Chemical analysis revealed a unique pH-responsive solubility profile; the material was soluble in strong acids but insoluble in basic media and most organic solvents, indicating a robust, dual-network structure stabilised by extensive hydrogen bonding. Microbiological tests confirmed the hydrogel's biocompatibility, as it supported the growth of common soil fungi (Aspergillus & Niger), demonstrating that the encapsulated nutrients were bioavailable. Conclusion The synthesised CRHF demonstrated significant potential as an innovative agricultural material. Its combined properties of high water retention, controlled nutrient release, and inherent biocompatibility make it a viable solution for improving agrarian sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Polymer synthesis Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical synthesis/Polymer synthesis Biological sciences/Plant sciences/Plant immunity/Microbe Hydrogels Controlled-Release Fertilisers Sustainable Agriculture Soil Amendments Water Conservation Gelatin Polyvinyl Alcohol Biocompatible Materials Nutrient Management Soil Microbiology Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8114064","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":546892266,"identity":"0341ba49-d189-4815-9fba-0c863cfb9ca7","order_by":0,"name":"Hassan 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Fertiliser","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Hydrogels, Controlled-Release Fertilisers, Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Amendments, Water Conservation, Gelatin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Biocompatible Materials, Nutrient Management, Soil Microbiology","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8114064/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8114064/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eConventional agricultural practices in water-scarce regions like Pakistan face significant challenges related to inefficient water use and nutrient loss from traditional fertilisers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced crop yields. This investigation addressed these challenges through the development of a novel agricultural amendment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study aimed to design, synthesise, and comprehensively characterise a controlled-release hydrogel fertiliser (CRHF) capable of enhancing soil water retention and providing a gradual, sustained release of essential plant nutrients.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethodology:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA biocompatible hydrogel was synthesised using gelatin, PVA, and sodium polyacrylate as the polymer matrix, with DAP encapsulated as the nutrient source. The formulation was guided by computational modelling of permutations and combinations. The final product was subjected to a rigorous analysis of its physical, chemical, and microbiological properties, including solubility profiling, thermal stability assessment, and microbial interaction studies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe synthesised CRHF was a thermally stable, solid material with a high melting point (150\u0026ndash;200\u0026deg;C). Chemical analysis revealed a unique pH-responsive solubility profile; the material was soluble in strong acids but insoluble in basic media and most organic solvents, indicating a robust, dual-network structure stabilised by extensive hydrogen bonding. Microbiological tests confirmed the hydrogel's biocompatibility, as it supported the growth of common soil fungi (Aspergillus \u0026amp; Niger), demonstrating that the encapsulated nutrients were bioavailable.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe synthesised CRHF demonstrated significant potential as an innovative agricultural material. Its combined properties of high water retention, controlled nutrient release, and inherent biocompatibility make it a viable solution for improving agrarian sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Efficient Ways of Agricultural Water Usage \u0026amp; Storage Technology using Controlled Release Gelatin-based hydrogel Fertiliser","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-25 12:11:42","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8114064/v1","editorialEvents":[],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4e55000a-f3c9-4099-a686-19a0a1faa462","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 25th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":58181481,"name":"Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Polymer synthesis"},{"id":58181482,"name":"Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical synthesis/Polymer synthesis"},{"id":58181483,"name":"Biological sciences/Plant sciences/Plant immunity/Microbe"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-04T12:25:52+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-25 12:11:42","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8114064","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8114064","identity":"rs-8114064","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}