Author: S.E. Cahyaningrum, F.I. Muhaimin, R.A. Lusiana, A.P. Wardani, F.F.A.Marchanti, A.P. Rahmadhani, M.R.A. Firmansyah, E.R. Anggraeni, C.N. Maulidiyah and N.S. Hakim

DOI: http://doi.org/10.31788/RJC.2026.1939724

A chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based slow-release fertiliser membrane system was developed to control sustainable nutrient delivery in a more environmentally friendly manner. The membranes were synthesisedviablending with varying PVA compositions to modulate the polymer network structure and transport characteristics. Physical and morphological characterisations were conducted using mass and thickness measurements, swellingandporosity tests, as well as FTIR and SEM analysis. Nutrient release analysis focused on Nitrogen, quantified usingtheEhrlich reagent method via UV-Vis spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 403 nm. The results indicatedthat increasing PVA concentration led to increased membrane porosity and swelling degree. The release kinetics werebest described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, suggesting a mechanism governed by both diffusion and polymer relaxation. The C1:P1 composition exhibited the highest model fit with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9809, followed by C1:P2 (0.9646) and C1:P3 (0.8579). This study suggests that the lower PVA ratio (C1:P1) offers themost predictable kinetic control for sustainable agricultural applications.

Keywords: Chitosan, PVA, Membrane, NPK, Slow-Release Fertiliser.