Wen Zhang, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Principal Investigator
Professor
Phone: (973) 596-5520
Fax: (973) 596-5790
Email: wen.zhang@njit.edu
Office Location: Colton Hall 211
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Dr. Zhang’s team was awarded the 2024 USDA grant on nanobubble research
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goal of this project is to foster environmentally sustainable irrigation technologies or processes for enhancing specific plant growth and crop yield per water usage. The key hypotheses are: (1) Nanobubbles could enter the hydrogel's polymer matrix and elicit higher colloidal stability and longer residence time than in water after applied to the soil, which will enable long-lasting impacts on soil improvement (e.g., moisturization and nutrient delivery); (2) Nanobubbles and other nutrients could also be slowly released from hydrogel and sustain greater bioavailability for plant uptake; (3) Nanobubbles may alter the soil microbial communities (especially the rhizosphere soil) that are responsible for plant growth; (4) Nanobubbles may improve nutrient content in plant biomass or products; (5) Applying this mixture of nanobubbles/hydrogel could better enhance plant growth in different soils compared to separate applications of only nanobubbles water or hydrogel during irrigation. The interaction mechanisms (e.g., adsorption and desorption) between nanobubbles and hydrogel in water and the effects of nanobubbles on nutrient release from hydrogel will be examined.
Project Methods
This research project employs a multifaceted technical approach aimed at optimizing the utilization of nanobubble water and hydrogel technologies for enhanced crop irrigation, soil fertilization, and plant growth. Objective 1 focuses on the preparation and characterization of nanobubbles and various hydrogel formulations. Tasks include the generation of nanobubbles using a functionalized ceramic membrane system, synthesis, and characterization of hydrogels with and without synthetic fertilizer, and the investigation of interactions between nanobubbles and hydrogel in water, along with their impacts on water chemical characteristics. Objective 2 delves into the nutrient release behavior and water retention properties of hydrogel in soil, examining nutrient release rates, water-holding ratios, and soil compaction. Objective 3 assesses the effects of nanobubbles-enriched hydrogel on plant growth in both hydroponic and soil-based cultures, evaluating plant growth, nutrient uptake efficiencies, microbial community dynamics in rhizosphere and bulk soils, and enzyme activities in plant leaves and soils. Through comprehensive experimentation and analysis, this research aims to elucidate the synergistic effects of nanobubbles and hydrogel on agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Project Summary
Agriculture is facing big challenges due to climate change, like more droughts and less water. Also, using a lot of chemical fertilizers harms the soil and water. This hurts our ability to grow food and harms the environment. To solve these problems, we're working on a project using tiny bubbles called nanobubbles and a special gel or jelly-like polymer called hydrogel. We've already shown in past research that nanobubbles can help increase the plant absorption of water and nutrients.
Now, we want to see how combining nanobubbles with hydrogel can make farming even better (e.g., increase water retention in the applied soil, increase water and nutrient delivery efficiency by over 50% and prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff). We will study how these bubbles and hydrogel interact and how they release water and nutrients to the soil and the result of plant growth improvement. Our goal is to find innovative ways to water and fertilize crops more efficiently. This will help farmers grow more food with less water and fewer chemicals. We will use different scientific methods to learn all we can and then share our findings with farmers and others in the agriculture industry. Ultimately, our research will lead to new and better ways of farming and sustainable irrigation solutions that are good for the environment and for growing healthy food.
Explore the Nano World
Wen's Research Group