Fabrication of hydrogel beads based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles/chitosan and application as a slow-release fertilizer

Hydrogels have gained significant attention in various applications, including agriculture, owing to their exclusive characteristics, such as great water retention and controlled delivery of fertilizers and agrochemicals. In this study, a nanocomposite hydrogel bead with exceptional slow-release capacity for urea fertilizer has been fabricated by appropriately combining urea, silica nanoparticles, and chitosan.