Water absorption by synthetic polymer (Aquasorb) and its effect on soilproperties and tomato yield

In arid and semi-arid regions, efficient utilization of available waternecessitates the adaptation of appropriate water management practices. Soilconditioners have been reported to be effective tools in increasing water holdingcapacity, reducing infiltration rate and cumulative evaporation, and improvingwater conservation of sandy soils. In view of characteristics of the hydro-gels/polymers and peculiar problems of rainfed areas, laboratory and green housestudies were carried out to observe the absorption of water by synthetic polymer(Aquasorb) and to investigate the effect of its application moisture content,nutrient supply, physico-chemical properties of sandy loam soil and yieldparameters of tomato crop. the laboratory, a weighed quantity (1 g) of Aquasorbwas placed in excessive quantity of water in 1000 ml beaker and polymer(Aquasorb) were weighed after 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 minutes todetermine the rate of water absorption. Aquasorb absorbs water slowly and waterabsorption increases with time that varied from 83-219 times their weight during30- 210 minutes. Under green house experiment seven concentrations (0, 0.25,0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50%) of pol (Aquasorb) were used. Ten kg of soil wasfilled in each pot. Polymer was thoroughly mixed into the soil. All the treatmentwere irrigated when the plants at control showed sign of wilting. It was notedthat moisture content in the polymer heated soil increased from 30 to 850%. Theaddition of polymer induced substantial changes in the physical properties of theso Saturation percentage increased significantly and the response was 17% betterthan control. Particle density and bulk dens were reduced due to the applicationof polymer. There was 8% reduction in particle density of soil, whereas reductionin bulk density was 4 to 80%. The pH and electrical conductivity of the soilremained unaffected. Vegetative growth and production were significantlyincreased, but there was no significant variation in NPK contents in the plants.