Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas

Sroka, Katarzyna; Sroka, Paweł

doi:10.3390/su16072945

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 233 publications

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“…Saha et al described the utilization of hydrogels as soil amendments to improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, and plant effective water content. Sroka et al reviewed the applications of hydrogels in agriculture and reclamation of degraded areas, including erosion prevention, water retention, slow release of fertilizers, reduction of mineral leaching, and immobilization of soil microorganisms. However, there is a dearth of research regarding methods to enhance hydrogel performance, mechanisms of fertilizer absorption and protection, and environmental risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Design of a Multifunctional Hydrogel Trap for Water and Fertilizer Capture: A Review

Wu,

Sheng,

et al. 2024

J. Agric. Food Chem.

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Water scarcity and land infertility pose significant challenges to agricultural development, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Improving soil-water-retention capacity and fertilizer utilization efficiency through the application of soil additives has become a pivotal approach in agricultural practices. Hydrogels exhibit exceptional water absorption and fertilizer retention capabilities, making them extensively utilized in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and desert control. Currently, most reviews primarily focus on the raw materials, classification, synthesis methods, and application prospects of hydrogels, with limited attention given to strategies for enhancing water-retention performance, mechanisms underlying fertilizer absorption, and environmental risks. This review covers the commonly used cross-linking methods in hydrogel synthesis and the structure−activity relationship between hydrogels and water as well as fertilizer. Additionally, a thorough analysis of the ecological benefits and risks associated with hydrogels is presented. Finally, future prospects and challenges are delineated from the perspectives of material design and engineering applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Design of a Multifunctional Hydrogel Trap for Water and Fertilizer Capture: A Review

Wu,

Sheng,

et al. 2024

J. Agric. Food Chem.

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The Combination Between Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) and Biofertilizers Could be an Ecofriendly Approach for Soil Chemical Properties Improving and Sustainable Wheat (Triticum Sativum) Production in Sandy Loam Soil

Negim,

Moharam,

Elsayed

et al. 2024

J Soil Sci Plant Nutr

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Sustainable agriculture aims to provide food needs while improving soil health and protecting it from degradation and contamination from excessive chemical fertilizer use. Sandy-textured soils have low fertility and water-holding capacity. This study assessed the integrated impact of super absorbent polymers (SAPs) and biofertilizer application on the soil chemical characteristics and wheat growth parameters in sandy loam soil. Two super absorbent polymers (SAPs) included Barbary plant G3 (P1) and Aqua Gool polymer (P2), and four microbial inoculations (Trichoderma harzianum (T), Actinomycetes (Streptomyces rochei and Streptomyces atrovirens) (AC1 and AC2), and Bacillus subtilis (B)) as biofertilizers were used in our pot experiment. The SAPs were applied to soil at a level of 0.2% (w/w), while biofertilizers were applied in the form of microbial cell suspensions (50 ml per pot) in addition to treating wheat seed with these suspensions during cultivation. Wheat plants were irrigated every 8 days to field capacity level. Amending soil with super absorbent polymers and microbes either individually or in combination significantly reduced pH and EC, increased organic matter level, and the availability of macro- and micronutrients in soil. Wheat growth metrics, including shoot length, tiller number, biomass accumulation, leaf area, and grain yield, exhibited considerable enhancements relative to the plants of the control treatment. The interaction between P1 polymer and Streptomyces atrovirens (AC2) showed the highest performance in improving the almost studied parameters. The application of SAPs with microbial biofertilizers offers a promising eco-friendly method for enhancing soil health and wheat yield.

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Organic Capillary Barriers for Soil Water Accumulation in Agriculture: Design, Efficiency and Stability

Smagin,

Sadovnikova,

Krivtsova

et al. 2024

Agriculture

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Acute shortage of water resources and high unproductive water losses are the key problems of irrigated agriculture in arid regions. One of the possible solutions is to optimize soil water retention using natural and synthetic polymer water absorbers. Our approach uses the HYDRUS-1D design to optimize the placement of organic water absorbents such as peat and composite hydrogels in the soil profile in the form of water-storing capillary barriers. Field testing of the approach used a water balance greenhouse experiment with the cultivation of butternut squash (butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne, 1786)) under sprinkler irrigation with measurement of the soil moisture profile and unproductive water losses in the form of lysimetric water outflow. In addition, the biodegradation rate of organic water absorbents was studied at the soil surface and at a depth of 20 cm. Organic capillary barriers reduced unproductive water losses by 40–70%, retaining water in the topsoil and increasing evapotranspiration by 70–130% with a corresponding increase in plant biomass and fruit yield. The deepening of organic soil modifiers to the calculated depth not only allowed capillary barriers to form, but also prevented their biodegradation. The best results in soil water retention, plant growth and yield according to the “dose-effect” criterion were obtained for a composite superabsorbent with peat filling of an acrylic polymer matrix. The study showed good compliance between the HYDRUS design and the actual efficiency of capillary barriers as an innovative technology for irrigated agriculture using natural and synthetic water absorbents.

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Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas

Cited by 3 publications

References 233 publications

Rational Design of a Multifunctional Hydrogel Trap for Water and Fertilizer Capture: A Review

Rational Design of a Multifunctional Hydrogel Trap for Water and Fertilizer Capture: A Review

The Combination Between Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) and Biofertilizers Could be an Ecofriendly Approach for Soil Chemical Properties Improving and Sustainable Wheat (Triticum Sativum) Production in Sandy Loam Soil

Organic Capillary Barriers for Soil Water Accumulation in Agriculture: Design, Efficiency and Stability

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