1Departemen of Agroindustrial Technology,Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia
*Email:anggioctavia4[at]student.ub.ac.id
Abstract
Slow release fertilizers (SRF) are developed to improve fertilization efficiency and reduce phosphorus (P) losses caused by leaching and fixation in soil, which are common challenges in tropical agricultural systems. Controlling P release is crucial to optimize nutrient uptake by plants while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Chitosan and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) are biodegradable coating materials with the potential to regulate nutrient release in a controlled manner. This study aimed to characterize the effects of varying MFC concentrations and coating layer numbers on P release, coating thickness, and moisture content of chitosan MFC coated NPK fertilizers. The coating was applied using the dip-coating method with different MFC concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/v) and layer numbers (single and double). Results showed that increasing MFC concentration and layer number increased coating thickness (0.152 to 0.223 mm) and reduced fertilizer moisture content (3.409% to 6.606%). The double coating at 1.5% MFC resulted in the lowest P release 4.82% within 24 hours. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among formulations, with 1.5% MFC identified as the most effective treatment in controlling P release. These findings confirm that adjusting MFC concentration and coating layer number not only improves the physical properties of the coating but also effectively slows P release, thereby supporting the development of efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable NPK slow-release fertilizers for modern agriculture.
