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Evaluation of two types of superabsorbent polymer on soil water and some soil microbial properties

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Abstract

In this study, two types of superabsorbent polymers, Luquasorb (Luqua) and Stockosorb (Stock), at 180 kg ha−1 were applied by scattering and mass treatments in an experimental farm to assess their influences on spring wheat growth (Dez variety) and on the physical characteristics and microbial plenty of soil. The following treatments were used in this study: the control (C, without SAPs), Luqua with mass application (Luqua-M), Stock with mass application (Stock-M), Luqua with scattered application (Luqua-S), and Stock with scattered application (Stock-S). Approximately 0.3 m3 of irrigation water was supplied for every subplot. The results indicated that adding superabsorbent polymers could improve the soil water-holding capacity and enable the soil to retain more water. Besides, superabsorbent polymers significantly enhanced the soil water content in the three growth stages compared with the control. The use of superabsorbent polymers did not have obvious opposite influences on the soil microbial colony and might even increase soil microbial movement.

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Abbreviations

AW:

Available water-holding

CT:

Control treatment

CEC:

Cation exchange capacity

DOC:

Dissolved organic carbon

Luqua:

Luquasorb

MBC:

Microbial biomass carbon

OMC:

Organic matter carbon

Stock:

Stockosorb

SAP:

Superabsorbent polymer

SWSA:

Soil water-stable aggregates

SHM:

Soil hygroscopic moisture

SMR:

Soil microbial respiration

SWC:

Soil water content

WC:

Water-holding capacity

WSA:

Water-stable aggregates

RG:

16S rRNA gene

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Engineering and Sciences, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

    Davoud Khodadadi Dehkordi

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  1. Davoud Khodadadi Dehkordi
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Correspondence to Davoud Khodadadi Dehkordi.

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Khodadadi Dehkordi, D. Evaluation of two types of superabsorbent polymer on soil water and some soil microbial properties. Paddy Water Environ 16, 143–152 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-017-0623-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-017-0623-x

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