Radiation induced biodegradable polymer blends for growth promotion of corn plants

Abstract

A series of polymer blends based on plasticized starch (PLST), poly(vinyl alcohol), alginic acid (AG), and chitosan (CS) were prepared by solution casting. The different blends were exposed to electron beam irradiation to different doses to form hydrogels. The blends before and after electron beam irradiation were characterized in terms of gel fraction (%), swelling in water (%), FTIR spectroscopic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheological measurements. As a practical application in the field agriculture, the hydrogels were used as growth promotion of corn plants. The results showed that the gel fraction was increases by increasing the ratio of PVA in the blends and was decreased by the addition of AG or CS due to the occurrence of degradation. On the other hand, opposite results was found in swelling in water. The corn plant growth indicated an improvement in corn plant height in presence of CS or AG polymers in starch (PLST), poly(vinyl alcohol) blends also, more improvement in corn plant heights in case of blends modified with MgSO4.