Effects of superabsorbent polyacrylamides on efficiency of water use by crop seedlings

Cross-linked polyacrylamide expands upon contact with water to form a pliable gel that in a growing medium constitutes a reservoir of moisture available for uptake by plants. Trials with seedlings of three crop species (Lactuca sativa L, Raphanus sativus L, Triticum aestivum L) using measurements of yield and evapotranspiration ratio show that gel-stored moisture is utilised with a greater efficiency than conventional forms of water. Moreover, gel storage of water provides a buffer against temporary drought stress and the potential for reducing the risk of failure of certain crops at establishment.