Agus Wedi Pratama 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Aminatun Nisa

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Muh. Misbah Muhtadi 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Ach. Fauzan Mas’udi

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Sri Rejeki 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Adin Novitasari

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Nur Andita Prasetyo 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember

Mohd Nor Faiz Norrrahim

Research Center for Chemical Defence, Defence Research Institute, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19184/icl.v4i2.60002

ABSTRACT 

The global agricultural sector faces a critical paradox: the necessity of increasing food production to support a growing population versus the severe environmental degradation caused by the inefficiency of conventional nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers. Conventional fertilizers exhibit nutrient use efficiencies (NUE) often below 50%, leading to substantial economic losses and ecological crises such as eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions. Slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) offer a viable solution, yet current commercial technologies rely heavily on non-biodegradable synthetic polymers that contribute to soil microplastic accumulation. Nanocellulose, encompassing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), has emerged as a premier bio-based candidate for next-generation SRF matrices due to its high aspect ratio, mechanical robustness, and abundant reactive surface hydroxyl groups. However, the intrinsic hydrophilicity of native nanocellulose poses a significant challenge in retarding nutrient release in aqueous environments. This review critically examines the role of surface engineering specifically oxidation, esterification, graft copolymerization, and cross-linking in modulating the release kinetics of nanocellulose-based fertilizers. We analyze the transition from simple diffusion-controlled mechanisms to complex swelling and erosion-controlled architectures enabled by surface functionalization. Furthermore, we evaluate the environmental implications of these materials through the lens of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), highlighting the potential of agricultural waste-derived nanocellulose to close the loop in a circular bioeconomy. The synthesis of recent data suggests that precise tuning of surface chemistry can increase nutrient retention times from hours to months, positioning functionalized nanocellulose as a cornerstone of sustainable precision agriculture.

Keywords: nanocellulose, slow-release fertilizer, surface engineering, release kinetics, sustainable agriculture.