Interactions of Cellulose Nanofibrils with a Foliar Fertilizer and Wild Blueberry Leaves: Potential to Enhance Fruit Yield (1)

Published: 2022

Author(s):
Tasnim, R.
Wang, L.
Parit, M.
Zhang, Y.

Publication Name: ACS Agricultural Science & Technology

Publication URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsagscitech.2c00118

Research Area:
Keywords:
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Abstract:

Nanocellulose is trending for its promising application in agriculture. A few studies have reported the use of nanocellulose as an adjuvant with foliar-applied pesticides and fertilizers. Yet, the mechanism of how the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) interact with foliar fertilizers and leaves is still not well-understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of CNFs on leaves of two wild lowbush blueberry species (Vaccinium angustifolium and Vaccinium myrtilloides). Our study showed that the CNF addition significantly affected the surface wettability and water loss of the V. myrtilloides leaves but not the V. angustifolium leaves. The difference could be related to denser trichomes in V. myrtilloides leaves. Our study also revealed that the CNFs assisted the foliar fertilizer to disperse into smaller particles on the leaf surface of V. angustifolium species, which might have resulted in a higher average fruit yield, inviting further study.