Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified the development of innovative materials that enhance productivity while alleviating the risks and negative impacts on the environment. This review discusses the role played by eco-friendly and advanced hydrogels in attaining sustainability in agriculture. An overview of modern agricultural practices is presented, highlighting the crucial role of hydrogels owing to their water-retaining ability and controlled release behavior. Furthermore, the types of hydrogels, their preparation methods, and various functions, such as swelling capacity, biodegradability, controlled release, and conductivity, that make them suitable for agriculture are discussed. Along with emphasizing on eco-friendly hydrogels, focusing on green synthesis approaches using bio-based raw materials and their environmental compatibility, advanced smart and responsive hydrogels are discussed. Subsequently, the practical applications of eco-friendly and advanced hydrogels in agriculture are examined, including soil moisture retention, controlled release for nutrient and agrochemical delivery, seed coating, soil remediation and soil-less cultivation. This review discusses the agronomic benefits together with the limitations of using hydrogels, concluding with future directions for the integration of sustainable hydrogel systems.