Agriculture and its related industries are one of the major
contributor to the economy of a nation. The industry holds the key to the food security
for the continuous population increase and only source of livelihood for most
of the people residing in rural areas. Shortage of water leads to drought,
monetary loss and other unwanted infirmities such as price upsurge, lower
productivity etc. All these may not have a rigid or cent percent solution but
their affects can be tamed and neutralized through physical and chemical means.
Using of super absorbent polymer on agricultural fields. This revolutionary
formulation not only solve the water related problem but also upgrade the soil
texture. Upon its application, it mixes up with soil particles and swells up on
contact with water. This swelling up of the polymer behaves like small packets
of water and imparts moisture retaining property to the roots of the plants. As
soon as the conditions become dry, it starts releasing water molecules, which
can be directly accessed, ensuring uninterrupted water supply and growth.
Potassium Polyacrylate [−CH2−CH(CO2K)−]n is based on
potassium salt of polyacrylic acid, mainly used as super absorbent polymer that
has the ability to absorb water few hundred times more than its size. There is
one more super absorbent polymer based on sodium salt of polyacrylic acid known
as sodium polyacrylate. It is also a powerful water absorbent, having more or
less similar molecular structure. Using anyone of them in dry agricultural
condition can get the job done but is it so? Let us see.
Sodium and Potassium polyacrylate both function as moisture
retainer forming water gels on contact with water molecules but sodium gel,
although having powerful retaining than the roots of plants does not release
water. Moreover, sodium polyacrylate starts disintegrating within 170 hours
into sodium salt, causing salinization of soil, making it unfit for irrigation.
On the other hand, potassium having comparatively low water retaining capacity
has water releasing function as well as have higher disintegration time and
supports enhanced irrigation.
The present era is witnessing some tough situations related to
depletion of some of the major natural resource, Water being an important one
of them, mainly in arid and semi-arid areas due to insufficient and uncertain
rainfall. The demand for clean water is rapidly increasing and its availability
for coming time is declining even faster. What is alarming is that agro sector
has to suffer, consuming most of the available potable water and the the
current irrigation practices cannot even cater to half of the grown crops due
to varied geographical dimensions of the sub-continent and varied soil
textures. These areas still follow traditional practices which not only lower
the effective use of water but also decrease the use of available water for
crops.
The best way to differentiate potassium
polyacrylate from sodium polyacrylate water bead is by exposing the same to
higher temperature. Sodium polyacrylate gel will melt within seven days.
Potassium Polyacrylate based Super Absorbent Polymers having
cross-linking molecular structure with a hydrophilic group attached, which
absorbs water to about 500-600 times of its own weight and form water beads or
crystals. Hydrogel acts as a water reservoir for plants as it traps irrigation
and rain water which can be released later at the time of requirement over
prolonged durations. These polymers also absorb vital nutrients from the soil
which are then utilized by plants for carrying out various physiological
processes. One of the major advantages of hydrogel is that it can be used on a
wide variety of soils. Water Hydrogel polymer does not alter the chemical
composition of soils on which it is applied, nor does it interfere with the
biocidal action of applied fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides,
etc. Hydrogel polymers are effective even at high temperature mainly in arid
and semi-arid areas.
Use of Super Absorbent Polymer ensures following guaranteed
results:
·
Significant
increase in water retaining ability
·
Efficient
usage of water
·
Increase
in soil permeability and infiltration rate
·
Decrease
in irrigation frequency
·
Increase
in plant performance, particularly in areas prone to drought
·
Reduction
in the rate of using fertilizers and pesticides
Looking at the above points, it can be confirmed that most of the
problems can be catered by SAP, ensuring good monetary benefits under limited
or rather same resources for the farmers and other agricultural professionals. Chemtex
Speciality Limited is an esteemed manufacturer of hydrogel under the brand name
“Alsta Hydrogel” that meets the standard requirement of agricultural sectors.