Synthesis and Application of Phosphate Glass Fertilizers as Sustainable Slow-Release Nutrient Sources for Baby Corn Production

Abstract

The excessive application of conventional fertilisers often results in rapid nutrient loss, low nutrient-use efficiency, and adverse environmental impacts. To address these challenges, phosphate-based glass fertilisers were synthesised using the conventional melt-quenching technique as environmentally sustainable slow-release nutrient sources. The glass compositions were melted at 750–800 °C with a soaking period of 30 min and rapidly quenched to produce homogeneous amorphous glass fertilisers. Five glass formulations (GS-1 to GS-5) containing essential macro- and micronutrients were prepared and evaluated for baby corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation in alluvial soil in a pot-culture experiment arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) at Ambika Kalna (23.2175° N, 88.3525° E) during the winter season of 2025. The synthesised phosphate glass fertilisers exhibited controlled dissolution behaviour, enabling the gradual release of essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo), throughout the crop growth period. Soil analyses revealed significantly higher nutrient retention in alluvial soil than in laterite soil due to its superior nutrient-buffering capacity. Among the developed formulations, GS-4 and GS-5 demonstrated the most sustained nutrient-release characteristics, leading to enhanced nutrient availability, improved plant uptake, and reduced nutrient leaching. Baby corn cultivated with the glass fertilisers showed improved growth performance and nutrient utilisation without causing significant alterations in soil pH, confirming the environmental compatibility and agronomic effectiveness of the developed materials. The findings demonstrate that phosphate glass fertilisers synthesised by the melt-quenching method can serve as efficient slow-release fertilisers, improving nutrient-use efficiency while minimising nutrient losses and environmental contamination. These environmentally sustainable glass fertilisers offer a promising alternative to conventional fertilisers for baby corn production and have considerable potential for application in precision agriculture and long-term sustainable crop management.