A groundbreaking approach to pesticide application has emerged, offering a potential solution to a long-standing challenge in agriculture. The problem? Up to 50% of pesticides sprayed on crops can be wasted, bouncing off leaves and causing environmental contamination. But a team of researchers, led by Associate Professor Prosenjit Sen from the Center for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc, has developed an innovative method using liquid marbles (LMs) to tackle this issue.
LMs are essentially droplets coated with hydrophobic particles, creating a protective barrier. Traditionally used for chemical reactions, the team recognized their potential for improving droplet deposition on plant surfaces. Unlike water droplets, which can slide or bounce off waxy hydrophobic leaves, LMs offer a unique mode of deposition.
When an LM strikes a hydrophobic surface, it spreads, extends, and then retracts. This retraction causes the hydrophobic particles to collide, resulting in significant energy loss due to fluid flow against the jammed particles. Consequently, the droplet inside cannot regain enough kinetic energy to bounce back, ensuring it sticks to the surface and enhancing deposition.
But here's where it gets controversial: the typical hydrophobic particles used in labs, such as glass beads and Teflon, are harmful to plants. So, the team explored biodegradable and organic alternatives like lycopodium and zein, a protein found in corn known for its water-insoluble, film-forming properties. LMs made with these materials proved more efficient than their glass bead counterparts.
And this is the part most people miss: the team's method is not only effective but also environmentally friendly, offering a safer alternative to using surfactants, polymers, and oils, which can harm the ecosystem.
The potential applications of this technology extend beyond agriculture. The team is also exploring its use in printing on hydrophobic materials, such as certain hard plastics.
Associate Professor Sen highlights the next steps: "We've proven the concept, but now we need to make the method economical and scalable. We must find a mechanism to create a large number of LMs when pesticides are sprayed."
So, what do you think? Is this a game-changer for sustainable agriculture and beyond? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
