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Effects of superabsorbent polyacrylamides on efficiency of water use by crop seedlings
Author(s) -
Johnson Michael S,
Leah Richard T
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740520316
Subject(s) - lactuca , raphanus , agronomy , moisture , water use efficiency , crop , evapotranspiration , yield (engineering) , polyacrylamide , superabsorbent polymer , water content , environmental science , horticulture , chemistry , irrigation , biology , materials science , polymer , ecology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
Cross‐linked polyacrylamide expands upon contact with water to form a pliable gel that in a growing medium constitutes a reservoir of moisture available for uptake by plants. Trials with seedlings of three crop species ( Lactuca sativa L, Raphanus sativus L, Triticum aestivum L) using measurements of yield and evapotranspiration ratio show that gel‐stored moisture is utilised with a greater efficiency than conventional forms of water. Moreover, gel storage of water provides a buffer against temporary drought stress and the potential for reducing the risk of failure of certain crops at establishment.