FROM PLANTS TO PLANTS: APPLYING CELLULOSE NANOFIBRILS WITH FOLIAR FERTILIZERS TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTIVITY

The long-term goal of the proposed work is to use cellulose nanofibril(CNF) as a functional adjuvant in foliar-applied agrochemical formulations for improving plant growth and fruit yield, as well as reducing agrochemical usage. The short-term goal of this project is to understand the interactions among CNF, fertilizers, and plant leaves, and their effect on the growth and fruit yield an exemplary plant (wild blueberry). Our central hypothesis is that CNF, as functional adjuvants, can facilitate nutrient uptake and improve wild blueberry's physiological performance by assisting the dissolution of nutrients, and enhancing the retention of nutrients on leaves. Our supporting objectives are:1) Investigate the effect of CNFon the dissolution of nutrients.2) Study the effect of CNFon the retention of nutrients.3) Field study to quantify the effect of CNF-templated fertilizers on crop productivity.