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Vol. 38 No. 7 (2026): Vol. 38, No 7 (2026)

Copyright (c) 2026 Jinali B. Shah, Prof. K. Santhosh Kumar, Dr. Pujan B. Vaishnav

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Micronutrient-Fortified Guar Gum-Borax Hydrogels for Controlled Release and Improved Growth of Green Gram (Vigna radiata)

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.36117
Jinali B. Shah
Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science, GSFC University, Vadodara-391750, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6397-4046
K. Santhosh Kumar
Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science, GSFC University, Vadodara-391750, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8334-2350
Pujan B. Vaishnav
Research & Development Centre, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Vadodara-391750, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7095-1061

Corresponding Author(s) : Jinali B. Shah

jinali3095@gmail.com

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 7 (2026): Vol. 38, No 7 (2026)

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies and water scarcity are major constraints to crop productivity, especially in conditions of excessive cultivation and low fertilizer use efficiency. To overcome this, the designing of smart materials such as hydrogels by simple and scalable synthesis method is essential. In this study, we propose the development of fortified guar gum-borax (GGB) hydrogels as polysaccharide-derived matrices for controlled micronutrient delivery. Different loading strategies were investigated to incorporate essential micronutrients, including Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B, into the hydrogel matrix. Among the approaches evaluated, the post-gelation loading method proved to be the most effective for achieving efficient nutrient encapsulation and retention. Comprehensive physico-chemical characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of the micronutrients within the hydrogel network. Furthermore, soil incubation and aqueous release studies demonstrated a sustained and controlled release behaviour confirmed prolonged micronutrient availability and enhanced nutrient delivery potential. Pot trials on green gram (Vigna radiata) revealed that fortified hydrogel treatments showed faster germination and better or comparable vegetative growth when compared with treatments of conventional micronutrient fertilisation. Post-harvest soil analysis indicated that fortified-GGB hydrogels-maintained soil pH and electrical conductivity within a comparable range while supporting post-harvest micronutrient availability.

Keywords

Guar gum-borax hydrogels Micronutrient delivery Controlled release Green gram Sustainable agriculture
(1)
Shah, J. B.; Kumar, K. S.; Vaishnav, P. B. Micronutrient-Fortified Guar Gum-Borax Hydrogels for Controlled Release and Improved Growth of Green Gram (Vigna Radiata). ajc 2026, 38, 1930-1946.
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Author Biographies

Jinali B. Shah, Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science, GSFC University, Vadodara-391750, India

PhD Scholar, Department of Chemicl Science, GSFC University, Vadodara

K. Santhosh Kumar, Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science, GSFC University, Vadodara-391750, India

Professor, Department Of Chemical Science, GSFC University, Vadodara

Pujan B. Vaishnav, Research & Development Centre, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Vadodara-391750, India

Vice President, Research & Development, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Vadodara

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