2022 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 66
Soil conditions of arid and semi-arid land with sufficient irrigation supply have a great potential for obtaining high yields of agricultural crops, but the constant lack of moisture constrains the increase in their production. Agriculture sector in Uzbekistan at present facing the frequent water shortages and limited soil moisture evaporated from the upper horizons under the influence of solar radiation. To achieve stable production and crop diversification, prevent soil moisture losses is necessary. Thus, we proposed an application of the absorbent polymers hydrogel to ensure effective preserving productive moisture in the soil. The method was investigated in the Advanced Plant Factory of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology for comparing the process of preserving soil moisture in the upper root layer of the sandy soil.
The results of our study indicate that application polymer hydrogel influenced positively on germination rate of E. equisetina plants seeds and have been efficient for prolonging the survival rate of E. equisetina plant seedling subjected to drought. It was revealed that E. equisetina plants growth in the hydrogel treatment in the first year of the experiments contributed to the growth of stem height almost same as in control. In subsequent year, the increase in stem height was not so significant in the hydrogel treatment. Despite that our results showed that the E. equisetina plant survival rate achieved by application of hydrogel in light (sandy) soils without irrigation. Most importantly, our results indicate the highest ability of hydrogel to release retained water for obtaining best water use efficiency under controlled condition.
