Comparison of Sodium Alginate-Based Slow-Release Beads with Varying Calcium Chloride Concentrations

Kiana Andrea Florentino1, Tea Toni Fleur Santos1 and Cherry Dale Templonuevo1
1Philippine Science High School- Western Visayas Campus – Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City


Abstract
Calcium alginate-based slow-release beads have properties which allow them to be used as fertilizer reservoirs. This study aimed to determine whether the varied concentrations of the cross-linking agent, calcium chloride, has any effect on the slow-release rate of the beads in soil application and in water. Three concentrations at (3, 2, and 1 percent w/v) of calcium chloride were tested for UV-vis absorption and soil application, and their slow-release rates were determined. No significant difference was found among the various calcium chloride concentrations in both water and soil application, however the UV-vis spectrophotometry test showed that the 1 percent w/v calcium chloride concentration set-up had the slowest release rate in water.