Sustainable agriculture can be achieved by upcycling and repurposing organic wastes for high-value applications. Keratin and cellulose are two natural biopolymers which are plentiful in biowastes such as hair, poultry feathers, wood shavings, and vegetable trimmings. In this study, these waste-derived biopolymers are converted into bioactive nutrient substrates that can support crop development in hydroponic culture systems. Keratin extracted from human hair (HHK) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) obtained from wood pulp were fabricated into composite substrates by freeze-drying. The substrates exhibited highly microporous structures, superior hydrophilicity, and excellent mechanical resilience. The obtained substrates not only serve as a physical carrier to support seed germination and seedling development but also function as advanced nutrient delivery platforms by the incorporation and controlled release of micronutrient-doped carbon dots, in addition to keratin degradation. Functional experiments using the model plant Arabidopsis and crops including Bok Choy (Brassica rapa) and Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) indicated that these substrates have the potential to be customized for enhanced seedling development in comparison to conventional substrates. This study demonstrates the feasibility and potential of upcycling and repurposing keratinous and cellulosic wastes to provide a sustainable solution for targeted nutrient delivery to crops.

中文翻译：

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用于增强水培幼苗发育的可持续营养基质

可持续农业可以通过升级回收和再利用有机废物用于高价值应用来实现。角蛋白和纤维素是两种天然生物聚合物，大量存在于头发、家禽羽毛、刨花和蔬菜装饰物等生物废物中。在这项研究中，这些废物衍生的生物聚合物被转化为生物活性营养基质，可以支持水培系统中的作物生长。从人发中提取的角蛋白（HHK）和从木浆中获得的纤维素纳米纤维（CNF）通过冷冻干燥制成复合基材。基材表现出高度微孔结构、优异的亲水性和优异的机械弹性。所获得的基质不仅可以作为支持种子萌发和幼苗发育的物理载体，而且还可以通过掺入和控制释放微量营养素掺杂的碳点，以及角蛋白降解，作为先进的营养输送平台。使用模式植物拟南芥和包括小白菜在内的作物的功能实验（Brassica rapa ) 和 Arugula ( Eruca vesicaria ) 表明，与传统基质相比，这些基质有可能被定制以增强幼苗发育。这项研究证明了升级循环和再利用角质和纤维素废物的可行性和潜力，为向作物提供有针对性的养分提供可持续的解决方案。