Application of Superabsorbent Polymers for Improving the Ecological Chemistry of Degraded or Polluted Lands

Hüttermann, Aloys; Orikiriza, Lawrence J. B.; Agaba, Hillary

doi:10.1002/clen.200900048

Cited by 197 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…Hydrogels are hydrophilic and contain carboxylic groups, enabling them to bind cations and adsorb water [17]. The water and nutrients stored in hydrogels are released gradually for plant growth under water limiting conditions, whereas under non-water limiting conditions, they are reported to enhance nutrient uptake for plant growth [18].…”

Section: Super Absorbent Polymers or Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction in Water Stress for Tree Saplings Using Hydrogels in Soil

Kargar¹,

Suresh²,

Legrand³

et al. 2017

GEP

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The effect of soil amendment with hydrogel on reducing water stress was tested for Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum) saplings. The trees were planted in soils with one of two concentrations of hydrogel (0.5% or 1% dry weight) as compared to the control soil (0% of hydrogel) and watered either daily, weekly, or bi-weekly. Growth was monitored by measuring height and stem diameter. Stress was monitored by measuring SPAD readings and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), as proxy measures of chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, respectively. Water stress decreased NDVI (p < 0.05) but did not have a significant effect on SPAD readings. Soil with 0.5% concentration of hydrogel was positively associated with greater height and NDVI (p < 0.01) for both maple and elm trees. Hydrogels had a species-specific effect on SPAD readings. The interaction between hydrogel concentration and the watering regime had a significant effect on the height and NDVI (p < 0.01) of elms, but not maples. The improved performance of water-stressed tree saplings in hydrogel-amended soils was presumably due to the ability of hydrogels to absorb and then gradually release water and nutrients. This is of special interest for urban foresters, because water stress and nutrient deficiency are two important growthlimiting factors for street trees.

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Section: Super Absorbent Polymers or Hydrogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction in Water Stress for Tree Saplings Using Hydrogels in Soil

Kargar¹,

Suresh²,

Legrand³

et al. 2017

GEP

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“…Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are substances that can retain large quantities of water and nutrients when incorporated in the soil, making it available for plant growth whenever required. They can be linear or cross-linked hydrogels [3] based on the structure of the cross-linking agents. This study focused on the latter type that has a relatively higher water absorption capacity compared to the former.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Hydrogels on Tree Seedling Performance in Temperate Soils before and after Water Stress

Orikiriza¹,

Agaba²,

Eilu³

et al. 2013

JEP

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Super Absorbent Polyacrylate (SAP) hydrogels absorb and store water thereby aiding plant establishment when incurporated in the soil. The effect of cross-linked SAP hydrogel amendment on the performance of tree seedlings of Picea abies, Pinus sylivestris and Fagus sylvatica grown in temperate soils under water stress and non-water stress periods was investigated in a green house. The objective was to compare the root and shoot biomass of seedlings of the three species grown in sand, loam and clay soils amended with 0.4% w/w hydrogel in non water stress conditions as well as survival, root and shoot biomass after subjection to water stress. The seedlings were grown for 16 weeks, harvested and shoot as well as root biomass determined before water stress. The seedlings were also subjected to water stress and their biomass assessed at death following the water stress. The results showed that root and shoot biomass were generally higher in hydrogel amended soils compared to the controls. Root and shoot biomass of Fagus sylvatica was lower compared to Picea abies and Pinus sylivestris before water stress. The 0.4% hydrogel amendment significantly increased species' survival in the different soils studied. Although root biomass was higher in hydrogel amended sandy soil compared to other soils, P. sylivestris and F. sylvatica shoot biomass were higher in hydrogel amended clay and loam soils compared to the sandy soil after water stress. Biomass was higher in sand compared to loam and clay soils under non-water and water stressed conditions. Since SAP hydrogel amendment improved the survival and biomass production of tree seedlings before and after water stress, use of SAPs could be promoted to enhance seedling production in water stress and non-water stress environments.

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“…During a long time, studies related to calcic nodules affecting evaporation payed much attention to calcic nodules mulching as calcic nodules present at soil surface [19][20][21]. However, as for calcic nodules embedding in soil, few experiments are carried out [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as for calcic nodules embedding in soil, few experiments are carried out [19]. Theoretical consideration, the effects of calcic nodules on evaporation in this case can be attributed to three aspects [19,21]: (i) reducing evaporation area; (ii) changing soil hydraulic conductivity; (iii) altering soil water allocation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, the effect of calcic nodules on soil evaporation is dominated by water absorption of calcic nodules, the availability of this water to evaporation, and CNC. As calcic nodules behave like soil, they can be regarded as a whole [20,21]. As calcic nodules are without water absorption, the total water distributes in the soil, causing the increase of soil water content owing to the increase of calcic nodules reducing the soil volume.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaporation Process in Soil Surface Containing Calcic Nodules on the Northern Loess Plateau of China by Simulated Experiments

Zhu

Shao

2009

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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Soil containing calcic nodules is widely present on the northern Loess Plateau of China owing to soil genesis under local climate conditions. In most studies, little attention is payed to the effect of calcic nodules on soil evaporation and ecoenvironment, resulting in inaccurate evaporation estimation in this kind of soil and further improper field water management measures and irrigation effects. In this paper, soil column experiments were conducted in order to investigate evaporation process in soil containing calcic nodules and the effect of calcic nodules on soil evaporation was determined. The results indicated that evaporation reduction was positively related to calcic nodule content (CNC = mass of calcic nodules/total mass), and could be estimated by the experiential equation: E soil = E 0 (1 -0.4 CNC) (E soil = actual evaporation, E 0 = theory evaporation in soil without calcic nodules). When CNC was below 0.2, the impact could be neglected. While, as CNC exceeded 0.2, the impact needed to be considered during soil evaporation estimation. As CNC reached 0.5, soil evaporation could be reduced by 7.5 mm, accounting for around 10% of the total soil water. Water balance calculation in soil columns showed that water absorbed by calcic nodules was partially available to evaporation. Water available to evaporation was positively related to CNC, and this water could not exceed 63% of the water absorbed by calcic nodules. Generally, evaporation behavior was dominated by calcic nodule quantity and its water absorption. These results provide new ideas for irrigation measures in arid areas of the globe.

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Application of Superabsorbent Polymers for Improving the Ecological Chemistry of Degraded or Polluted Lands

Cited by 197 publications

References 104 publications

Reduction in Water Stress for Tree Saplings Using Hydrogels in Soil

Reduction in Water Stress for Tree Saplings Using Hydrogels in Soil

Effects of Hydrogels on Tree Seedling Performance in Temperate Soils before and after Water Stress

Evaporation Process in Soil Surface Containing Calcic Nodules on the Northern Loess Plateau of China by Simulated Experiments

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