Analysis of water-absorbent polymers from saw dust and coffee husks to enhance soil moisture retention, crop productivity and irrigation efficiency in Busia, Uganda
Abstract The increase in crop water stress due to drought variability significantly contributes to crop failure and yield reduction in developing regions. The super-absorbent polymers (SAPs)—agro-hydrogel, are promising eco-friendly solutions to minimize drought stress, improve soil health; the stru...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Discover Soil |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00089-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Abstract The increase in crop water stress due to drought variability significantly contributes to crop failure and yield reduction in developing regions. The super-absorbent polymers (SAPs)—agro-hydrogel, are promising eco-friendly solutions to minimize drought stress, improve soil health; the structure in particular, and increase water availability in the plant rhizosphere. Knowledge on the production and application of the agro-hydrogels to improve degraded soils and optimize irrigation water use during dry seasons, is limited in East Africa. In this study, two self-made cellulose-based SAPs were assessed in a pilot open-field experiment to evaluate their soil water retention abilities and irrigation water use for improved crop productivity. The research aimed to answer three major questions: (1) What is the water absorption capacity of SAPs derived from agro-waste products? (2) How do the physical properties of these SAPs influence their effectiveness in retaining moisture in soil? and (3) What is the influence of these SAPs on crop growth and yield? The cellulose-based SAPs were synthesized from sawdust and coffee husks using bulk polymerization and tested for their swelling capability in different aqueous media following the standard procedures. The effectiveness of the SAPs in agricultural applications was evaluated in the pilot open-field experiment with okra plant cultivation at the experimental site of Busitema University, main campus, located in Eastern Uganda. The SAPs were analyzed after several absorption cycles over 60 days, and three treatments defined by different SAPs (from sawdust and coffee) with 50% ETC, 30% ETC and control were set in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results indicated that SAPs-amended soils (5 g of SAPs on each plant) stored a considerable amount of water (2 L per irrigation) and released it gradually to the plant roots during plant growth. Additionally, the polymer synthesized from sawdust absorbed and retained more water (30%) than coffee husks (10%). Therefore, these results suggest that adopting SAPs could become a climate-smart and sustainable approach to water conservation, improving crop productivity and dryland farming, especially in water-scarce and saline regions. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 3005-1223 |