Kanchan Jha

The increasing generation of agro‐industrial biomass residues and the inefficient use of conventional fertilizers have created a need for sustainable materials that support controlled nutrient delivery while promoting biomass valorization. In this study, durian peel waste was used as a cellulose source for the preparation of biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/sodium alginate (SA) aerogel beads using supercritical CO ₂ (Sc‐CO ₂ ) pretreatment. NPK‐loaded CMC–SA aerogels with varying SA contents were fabricated and evaluated for their physical, mechanical, structural, morphological, biodegradation, and greenhouse performance. The CMC3SA1.5 formulation showed the most favorable balance of bulk density, bead yield, hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience among the tested formulations. XRD analysis showed that the aerogel beads were predominantly amorphous, in contrast to pure NPK, which exhibited sharp crystalline reflections, while CMC3SA1.5 displayed the highest peak intensity and crystallinity index, indicating improved structural organization and cross‐linking within the polymer matrix. SEM analysis further confirmed a highly porous and compact morphology with improved NPK encapsulation. In the soil burial test, all formulations exhibited progressive biodegradation over 30 days, with CMC3SA1.5 showing 59.23% weight loss, indicating a favorable balance between structural stability and biodegradability. Greenhouse studies using Capsicum annuum demonstrated that CMC3SA1.5 significantly enhanced reproductive performance, producing an average of 20 flowers by Day 90, F (7, 16) = 29.43, p < 0.0001, and 17 chilies per plant by Day 95, F (7, 16) = 88.18, p < 0.0001. The findings demonstrate that waste‐derived CMC–SA aerogels provide an effective remediation‐oriented solution for agricultural waste management and fertilizer‐associated pollution control.

Soil fertilizers have the potential to significantly increase crop yields and improve plant health by providing essential nutrients to the soil. The use of fertilizers can also help to improve soil structure and fertility, leading to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. However, overuse or improper use of fertilizers can lead to soil degradation, which can reduce soil fertility, decrease crop yields, and damage ecosystems. Thus, several attempts have been made to overcome the issues related to the drawbacks of fertilizers, including the development of an advanced fertilizer delivery system. Biopolymer aerogels show promise as an innovative solution to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of soil-fertilizer delivery systems. Further research and development in this area could lead to the widespread adoption of biopolymer aerogels in agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices and helping to address global food-security challenges. This review discusses for the first time the potential of biopolymer-based aerogels in soil-fertilizer delivery, going through the types of soil fertilizer and the advert health and environmental effects of overuse or misuse of soil fertilizers. Different types of biopolymer-based aerogels were discussed in terms of their potential in fertilizer delivery and, finally, the review addresses the challenges and future directions of biopolymer aerogels in soil-fertilizer delivery.