| abstract |
A method of incorporating a bioactive growth promoting additive into a starch matrix to form a starch-based superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications and the product formed thereby include (1) monomers And starch polymerizing to form a starch graft copolymer comprising a starch matrix; (2) isolating the starch graft copolymer; (3) forming particles of the starch graft copolymer; and (4) Adding a bioactive growth promoting additive includes allowing at least some of the bioactive growth promoting additive to be taken up by the starch matrix. Placing starch-based SAP products with bioactive growth-promoting additives close to plants, roots, seeds or seedlings increases the utilization of beneficial nutrients, so plants, roots, seeds or seedlings Growth is promoted. |