Preparation and Characterization of some Phosphoborosilicate Glasses Containing some Micronutrients as Plant Fertilizers

摘要

FOUR phosphoborosilicate glasses containing one or more of the micronutrients: namely Cu, Zn, Fe, were prepared using analytical grade chemicals by melting in an electric furnace at about 1400°C for 2hr. The melts being calcined at about 450°C, were carefully crushed to grains of 2mm size. The release rate of the glass grains of 2mm size in 0.4%HC1 solution, 2% citric acid solution, and distilled water at room temperature was determined using a standard grain method for immersion time intervals varying between 1 to 4 weeks. The concentrations of K&P ions released into the leaching solutions were determined. The results obtained revealed that some of the prepared plant fertilizer samples led to a significant increase in the plant growth better than that observed in case of the traditional fertilizers. Furthermore, the extents of K&P ions released increased by increasing the time of immersion.