Exploration of biodegradable polymeric particles in agriculture: a holistic approach for sustainable farming

Abstract

Conventional agricultural methodologies often rely on excessive application of fertilizers, pesticides, and water, resulting in adverse environmental consequences such as air/water/soil pollution, soil degradation, etc., thereby diminishing farming efficiency and profitability. The growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified researchers' interest in exploring biodegradable polymeric particles (BPPs) due to their ability to improve agrochemical delivery, enhance soil health, and mitigate environmental impacts. This review critically examines the state of the art in the design, fabrication, and application of BPPs for agriculture to accomplish sustainable farming. It highlights their significance in enabling controlled release systems, soil improvement, and plant stress tolerance. Key fabrication techniques such as emulsion solvent evaporation, anti-solvent nanoprecipitation, ionotropic gelation, and spray drying are compared based on their scalability, cost-efficiency, and suitability for producing particles with tailored properties. The influence of particle size, shape, and morphology on application efficiency and their biological interactions are thoroughly analyzed, emphasizing the importance of design in optimizing performance. This review also explores the challenges associated with adopting BPPs, including scalability, cost, regulatory compliance, etc., and proposes future directions for advancing their development. By addressing critical gaps and presenting innovative strategies, this review provides a comprehensive framework for integrating biodegradable polymeric particles into sustainable agricultural practices.