Agricultural Polymers Revisited: Salinity Interactions and Soil-Water Conservation

A synthetic superabsorbent polymer used to improve water-holding capacity of soils was investigated. Two water qualities, two irrigation intervals, and two application rates were administered to 24 treated soil columns. Polymer absorbance of water was proportional with time but inversely proportional to salinity levels. After a threshold period, which was longer for the lower water application rate, cumulative evaporation (E = √ct) increased with decrease in irrigation interval and the type of amendments added in order of control > peat moss > the absorbent copolymer. The value of c was largely determined by the water application rate and the type of the soil amendment. Salt and moisture distributions were governed by the amount of water conserved. Peat moss was more effective in leaching salts. The quantity of water applied per irrigation, rather than cumulative amount, seemed to affect water conservation, whereas the cumulative amount of water affected electrical conductivity–sodium absorption ratio (EC-SAR) distributions.