Effects of super absorbent polymer-soil interaction on plant growth, development, water use efficiency and soil leachate

Water and nutrient availability are the most limiting factors in crop production. The rising cost of fertilizers and unavailability of water for irrigation are major concerns to farmers. Crop production in South Texas is particularly challenging because of the area’s semi-arid climate and silty clay loam soil type that requires constant irrigation to increase crop optimum growth and yield. Previous studies show that superabsorbent polymers (SAP) have been used as soil amendments. They absorb water and nutrients and release them slowly in the soil so the nutrients are available for root absorption for increased crop growth, development and yield. A type of SAP (ZEBA®) was used in this study at concentrations used in the Netherlands at Wageningen Plant Research, Vredepeel to study ZEBA’s interaction with south Texas soil, and to determine its optimum concentration for soils in the area. Results indicate that ZEBA mixed with south Texas soils at 1:200 and 1:500 showed no statistical difference in all growth parameters studied. Also, no difference exists between the two concentrations in leachate volume, water retention capacity, and nitrate concentration of leachate. However, Capsicum annum grown in these soil concentrations of ZEBA had significantly higher chlorophyll content (P=0.0103) relative to ambient south Texas soil with or without fertilizer. Soil media mixed with ZEBA used significantly less water (p=0.0158), less leachate (p=0.0007) and nitrate in leachate (p