Carboxymethyl cellulose/urea hydrogel for seed pelleting: reversible water management at the seed-soil interface improves germination and drought-resilient establishment
A carboxymethyl cellulose/urea (CMC/urea) hydrogel was developed via an EDC/NHS-mediated reaction as a water-managing component for seed pelleting under drought-prone conditions. FTIR, XPS, SEM and rheological analyses revealed a nitrogen-containing, porous and elastic CMC-based network with high water-storage capabili...