Amending Soils with Hydrogels Increases the Biomass of Nine Tree Species under Non-water Stress Conditions
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Clean–Soil, Air, Water
Abstract
The classical aim of the application of super absorbent polyacrylate (SAPs) hydrogels
is the prolonging of plant survival under water stress. Their effect on plant growth
during non-water stress conditions is not known. This study examined the root and
shoot biomass of seedlings of nine tree species; Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus citriodora,
Pinus caribaea, Araucaria cunninghamii, Melia volkensii, Grevillea robusta, Azadirachta indica,
Maesopsis eminii and Terminalia superba. The seedlings were potted in five soil types;
sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam and clay. These were amended at two hydrogel levels:
0.2 and 0.4% w/w and grown under controlled conditions in a green house. Root
and shoot growth responses of the seedlings were determined by measuring the dry
weight of the roots, stems, leaves and twigs. The addition of either 0.2 or 0.4% hydrogel
to the five soil types resulted in a significant increase of the root dry weight (p a
0.001) in eight tree species compared to the controls after 8 wk of routine watering.
Also, the dry weight of stems and leaves and twigs were significantly (p a 0.001)
higher in the nine tree species potted in hydrogel amended soil types than in the
hydrogel free controls. These results suggested that hydrogel amendment enhances
the efficiency of water uptake and utilization of photosynthates of plants grown in
soils which have water contents close to field capacity.
Description
Keywords
Biomass, Hydrogels, Nine tree species, Non-water stress, Soil types, Super Absorbent Polyacrylate (SAPs)
Citation
Orikiriza, L. J., Agaba, H., Tweheyo, M., Eilu, G., Kabasa, J. D., & Huettermann, A. (2009). Amending soils with hydrogels increases the biomass of nine tree species under Non‐water stress conditions. Clean–Soil, Air, Water, 37(8), 615-620. DOI: 10.1002/clen.200900128