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Vol. 18 No. 3 (2024)
In press / En imprenta

Vegetable section

Water-superabsorbent polymer improves seedling establishment in some warm-season plants

https://doi.org/10.17584/rcch.2024v18i3.17763

Published 2024-08-14

  • Ali Hosseini
    • ,
  • Hassan Heidari
    • ,
  • Iraj Nosratti
    • ,
  • Mahmood Khoramivafa

Ali Hosseini
Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Kermanshah (Iran)

Hassan Heidari
Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Kermanshah (Iran)

Iraj Nosratti
Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Kermanshah (Iran)

Mahmood Khoramivafa
Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Kermanshah (Iran)

Water- superabsorbent polymer improved seedling height in some warm season plants. Source: H. Heidari

Abstract

Drought reduces plant establishment. Uneven and failed establishment causes crop loss. This experiment aimed at determining the effect of water-superabsorbent application rates (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g m-2) on the plant establishment of foxtail millet, dill, and fenugreek. This field experiment was conducted in a semi-arid area. The used water-superabsorbent was synthetic and of acrylamide, acrylic acid and potassium ‎acrylate type, ‎which is able to absorb 220% moisture for its weight. The cycle of water ‎absorption ‎and drying of water-superabsorbent is repeatable.‎ Mean comparisons showed that water-superabsorbent polymer improved seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, plant height, and seedling emergence percentage in all studied plants. Overall, except for foxtail millet, a water-superabsorbent rate of 8 g m-2 is recommended for high seedling emergence. For foxtail millet, a superabsorbent polymer rate of 6 g m-2 is sufficient.

Keywords

Dill, Emergence percentage, Fenugreek, Foxtail millet, Hydrogel

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