Hydrogel for Plant Cultivation
Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that are hydrophilic and able to withhold a great quantum of water. The urgency of addressing water scarcity and the necessity for sustainable water management in agriculture requires exploring and implementing innovative solutions.
Introduction to Plant Cultivation
Agriculture is one of the most important sectors but it consumes large amounts of water. Agriculture soil, especially arid and semi-arid soils, has large pores due to it, and plants have to face low water and fertilizer retention problems. Intelligent polymer materials and their high water and mineral retention capabilities have helped agriculture. Hydrogels, also termed smart and/or hungry networks, are a current subject of considerable scientific research due to their potential in hi-tech applications in modern agriculture systems.
Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of hydrogel interaction with soil and water. (Singh, N., et al., 2021)
Utilization of Hydrogel in Plant Cultivation
If we understand the synthesis technology and the factors that affect the swelling behavior of these hydrogels, we can realize their full potential in promoting sustainable agriculture and mitigating the challenges of environmental change.
- Modifying the Hydro-Mechanical Behavior of Soils
Poor aggregation of soil particles due to climate change (i.e., erosion and water scarcity) increases soil degradation, creating a negative feedback loop that threatens food production. To prevent these negative impacts on agricultural soils subjected to the effects of climate change, several biopolymer materials (i.e., hydrogels) have been proposed in the past, such as chitosan and alginate. Hydrogels in agriculture have been proven to be a potential tool to change the hydraulic behavior of soils by (1) changing and improving the fluid dynamics of the liquid phase, (2) improving the water holding capacity and (3) improving the mechanical behavior of soils under different environmental pressures.
Fig. 2 Stability of aggregates of the different treated soil media. (Barrientos-Sanhueza, C., et al., 2022)
- Water and Fertilizer Retention Capabilities
The development of agricultural technology relies entirely on the effective delivery of agricultural chemicals and water to plants, as well as reducing the harmful effects of agricultural chemicals on useful organisms in the soil. Recently, many studies have used hydrogels as water-management polymers to reduce irrigation water and control the release of different fertilizers into the soil, which have received a significant amount of attention in agricultural applications. Hydrogels can retain water in high quantities. therefore, hydrogels can be used in agricultural irrigation, especially in agricultural lands in arid and semi-arid regions.
Fig. 3 Water retention (%) of soil/hydrogel composites with time. (Jabrail, F.H., et al., 2023)
- Nutrient Removal from Plant Cultivation Wastewater
Greenhouse wastewater (GW) is a special type of agricultural wastewater that is generated in greenhouses during the soilless cultivation of vegetables and fruits. They are mainly composed of a fertilizing medium that leached out from the root growth zone and therefore are rich in nitrates and orthophosphates and poor in organic carbon. The most productive sorbents of nitrates and phosphates involve chitosan sorbents in the shape of hydrogel beads.
The Hydrogel Development Services We Provide
Having been working on hydrogel development and hydrogel analysis for years, Matexcel is proud to provide high-quality hydrogel-related services to better achieve the goal of plant cultivation. Please contact us for more information, if you are interested or have any questions.
References
- Singh, N.; et al. 3-Dimensional Cross Linked Hydrophilic Polymeric Network "Hydrogels": An Agriculture Boom. Agric. Water Manag. 2021, 253, 106939.
- Barrientos-Sanhueza, C.; et al. Bacterial Alginate-Based Hydrogel Reduces Hydro-Mechanical Soil-Related Problems in Agriculture Facing Climate Change. Polymers. 2022, 14, 922. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14050922.
- Jabrail, F.H.; et al. Studies on Agrochemical Controlled Release Behavior of Copolymer Hydrogel with PVA Blends of Natural Polymers and Their Water-Retention Capabilities in Agricultural Soil. Polymers. 2023, 15, 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173545.