University of Adelaide researchers are developing fertilizers with a graphene carrier that could lower environmental impacts and reduce costs for farmers. In partnership with industry, the researchers have demonstrated effective slow release fertilizers can be produced from loading essential trace elements onto graphene oxide sheets.

Using graphene as a carrier means the fertilizers can be applied in a more targeted way, with overall increased 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 reportedly continuing with macronutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate.

“Fertilizers that show slower, more controlled release and greater efficiency will have reduced impact on the environment and lower costs for farmers over conventional fertilizers, bringing significant potential benefit for both agriculture and the environment,” says Professor Mike McLaughlin, Head of the University of Adelaide’s Fertilizer Technology Research Center at the Waite campus.

“Our research found that loading copper and zinc micronutrients onto graphene oxide sheets was an effective way to supply micronutrients to plants. It also increased the strength of the fertilizer granules for better transport and spreading ability.”

The research is a collaboration between the University of Adelaide’s Fertilizer Technology Research Center and the University’s Australian Research Council Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation.

Professor McLaughlin says: “It’s still early days but there is no doubt that fertilizers with release rates more tailored to crop demand, and fertilizers with greater physical strength and robustness, will both improve grower efficiency of fertilizer application and efficiency of nutrient uptake". “Successful commercialization will depend on cost of graphene/graphene oxide and the ability to scale this process up, and integrate it into the commercial fertilizer production process.”