1 Clay-reinforced nanocomposites for the slow release of chemical fertilizers and water retention https://jourcc.com/index.php/jourcc/article/view/jcc224 10.29252/jcc.2.2.4 20.1001.1.26765837.2020.2.3.4.4 1 The present study includes an overview of the applications of clay-based nanocomposites over the past decade to date in various fields such as pharmaceuticals, water treatment, food packaging, electricity, automotive, and especially the production of chemical fertilizers with water retention and slow release. In the agricultural area, one of the promising materials that help green chemical engineering and green chemistry is slow-release fertilizer (SRF). Clay minerals and also clay nanocomposites provide cost-effective and efficient material for this purpose. In this paper, the research and development of polymer nanocomposites based on clay in recent years with the focus on their application as novel fertilizers have been reviewed. Clay minerals are promising reinforcements to manufacture high-performance, lightweight, and low-cost nanocomposites because of their abundance, layered structure, low cost, and rich intercalation chemistry. 85 91 Aliasghar Abuchenari Shahid Bahonar University Iran aliab596@yahoo.com Khatereh Hardani Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology Iran info@jourcc.com Somayeh Abazari Amirkabir University on Technology Iran info@jourcc.com Fahimeh Naghdi Babol Noshirvani University of Technology Iran info@jourcc.com Mehdy Ahmady Keleshteri Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU) Iran info@jourcc.com Ata Jamavari Iran University of Science and Technology Iran info@jourcc.com Amir Modarresi Chahardehi Universiti Sains Malaysia Malaysia info@jourcc.com Clay nanocomposites Slow release Controlled release Fertilizer Article4.pdf [1] B. Ni, M. Liu, S. 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