Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 11
Perspectives in Nanocomposites for the Slow
and Controlled Release of Agrochemicals:
Fertilizers and Pesticides
Elaine In
´
cio Pereira, Amanda Soares Giroto, Adriel Bortolin,
Cintia Fumi Yamamoto, Jos´ Manoel Marconcini, Alberto Carlos de
Campos Bernardi, and Caue Ribeiro
Abstract Agrochemical represented mainly by fertilizers and pesticides are vital
inputs for agricultural production. However, their conventional application in field
is poorly effective, with significant losses due mainly to volatilization and/or
lixiviation of soluble agrochemicals. In some cases, the application exceeds two
times the optimal quantity, meaning that other undesired consequences take part,
such as environmental contamination or production of greenhouse gases. A con-
siderable scientific effort has been made to develop viable systems for the con-
trolled or slow delivery of agrochemicals, in order to adjust the nutrient availability
in soil to minimal doses required for pest control or to levels needed by plants.
Besides other technologies, the association of soluble materials containing fractions
of minerals with very high surface area has shown to be an effective way for the
optimization of agrochemical application, where the cation-exchange capacity
(CEC) of minerals plays an important role. Then, the association of mineral
structures (high CEC clays and layered double hydroxides, etc.) opens a new
research field in the tailoring of nanocomposites, where the properties of minerals,
polymers, and additives that are associated with agrochemicals (considered as the
active moiety of the nanocomposites) can produce novel properties to the release
control. Therefore, this chapter reviews the underlying principles in controlled or
