{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T11:38:07Z","timestamp":1784806687981,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,11]],"date-time":"2025-05-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746921600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["AP19679222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["AP19679222"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["BR21882439"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["BR21882439"]}]},{"name":"Targeted Program of the MHES of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["AP19679222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["AP19679222"]}]},{"name":"Targeted Program of the MHES of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["BR21882439"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["BR21882439"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nanomaterials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of stearic-acid-coated sand (SACS) as a superhydrophobic material for agricultural water management applications. The fabrication process involves coating silica sand particles with stearic acid in an ethanol-based solution, followed by controlled drying to achieve a stable and uniform hydrophobic layer. Structural, chemical, and physical characterizations confirmed the successful functionalization of the sand surface. The coated sand exhibited a high water contact angle (WCA &gt; 150\u00b0), indicating strong water repellency and potential for reducing water loss in soil systems. Experimental results demonstrated enhanced moisture retention in SACS-treated soil, prolonging water availability by up to four additional days compared to untreated samples. Despite its promising performance, potential degradation under acidic or organic solvent exposure remains a concern for long-term application. Overall, this work presents SACS as a low-cost, scalable solution to improve water conservation in dry agricultural areas, supporting sustainable farming practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nano15100721","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]],"date-time":"2025-05-13T03:59:26Z","timestamp":1747108766000},"page":"721","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Stearic-Acid-Coated Sand: A Game Changer for Agriculture Water Management"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8281-4164","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Muhammad","family":"Abdullah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-3494-1067","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mergen","family":"Zhazitov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nazerke","family":"Kydyrbay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4992-0495","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tolagay","family":"Duisebayev","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yerbolat","family":"Tezekbay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4594-3435","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olzat","family":"Toktarbaiuly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e4","DOI":"10.1017\/wat.2024.16","article-title":"Water scarcity: A global hindrance to sustainable development and agricultural production\u2014A critical review of the impacts and adaptation strategies","volume":"3","author":"Biswas","year":"2025","journal-title":"Camb. 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