Utilization of waste paper for an environmentally friendly slow-release fertilizer

Abstract

To help address the physical, chemical, and biological degradation of agricultural soils resulting from indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, we developed a slow-release fertilizer from waste paper and urea. This approach has the advantage of a slow-release fertilizer in that it avoids surface runoff or leaching of nutrients, while providing an excellent medium for the recycling of waste paper. The successful impregnation of urea into waste paper was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. This study also evaluated the release patterns of N from impregnated waste paper using a simulated soil solution and distilled water as leaching solutions. The release patterns of N were examined in both static and continuous-flow conditions for 720 h. Release of N from impregnated waste paper was found to be slow and steady, although the release rate of N was lower in distilled water than soil solution under both conditions. © 2008 The Japan Wood Research Society.