Preparation and Degradation of Seedling Containers Made from Straw and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate Modified Urea-Formaldehyde Resins

Straw powders were blended with hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (HSPI) modified urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins to produce biodegradable seedling containers. The tensile strength and the degradability of the seedling containers were characterized. Moreover, the degradation behavior of modified UF resins was investigated using 15 N isotopic tracing, dynamic mechanical analysis, 13 C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer. The results showed that the best tensile strength of the seedling containers made from HSPI-modified UF resins was improved by 6% compared with the seedling containers made from UF resins. The degradability of the seedling containers made from modified UF resins was improved 8.8 times more than that of unmodified UF resins. HSPI can lower the cross-linking degree of UF resins. The HSPI and ureaformaldehyde molecular chains in the resins were decomposed simultaneously in the soil. After degradation, nodular particles that appeared to be coalesced by small globular particles remained. In the process of degradation, modified UF resins can provide a nitrogen source for crops.