Graphene promotes more efficient fertilisers
In a world-first, the use of the new advanced material 'graphene' as a fertiliser carrier means Faculty of Sciences’ researchers are creating fertilisers with lower environmental impacts and reduced costs for farmers.
In partnership with industry, Fertiliser Technology Research Centre researchers have demonstrated effective slow release fertilisers can be produced from loading essential trace elements onto graphene oxide sheets.
Using graphene as a carrier means the fertilisers can be applied in a more targeted fashion, with overall increased fertiliser efficiency and great nutrient uptake by the plants. The graphene-based carriers have so far been demonstrated with the micronutrients zinc and copper. Work is continuing with macronutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate.