Guan'gai paishui xuebao (Nov 2022)

Effect of Water Adsorption Polymer Size on Soil Water Retention and Growth of Tobacco Seedlings

  • XIA Maolin,
  • LI Hongchen,
  • ZHAO Huaxin,
  • LI Pengyu,
  • LIU Lingling,
  • GUAN Weidong,
  • CHANG Jianbo,
  • WANG Zhijun,
  • JI Xiaoming

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2022212
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 41, no. 11
pp. 14 – 21

Abstract

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【Objective】 Drought is the most common abiotic stress affecting agricultural production in most countries, and alleviating its detrimental effect is critical to safeguarding crop growth. The purpose of this paper is to compare the efficacy of water adsorption polymer in improving soil water retention and growth of tobacco seedlings. 【Method】 Water adsorption polymer particles with diameter in the range of 0.3~1.0 mm (T1), 1.0~2.5 mm (T2), and 2.5~4.75 mm (T3) were mixed with soil thoroughly prior to planning, respectively, with soil not being amended as the control (CK); plants in all treatments were under water stress. The field water capacity, water retention rate, as well as the growth and development of the tobacco seedlings were measured in each treatment. 【Result】 The field capacity maximized when the particle diameter was in the range of 2.5~4.75 mm, up 30.49% higher than that in the CK. Mixing soil with polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm gave the highest soil water retention capacity. Soil amended by polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm can effectively alleviate drought stress, promoting biomass accumulation in the plant. Soil amendment increased its total water content, relative water content and free water content in tobacco leaves by 4.93%, 24.35% and 11.81%, respectively, while reduced bound water, bound technique/free water, and water saturation deficit by 5.25%, 16.18%, and 63.51%, respectively. Compared with CK, soil amendment with the polymer also reduced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, MDA, and soluble protein in the plant by 114.86%, 211.93%, 67.05%, and 273.29%, 27.73% respectively. 【Conclusion】 Amending the soil with water absorbent polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm is most effective to improve the field capacity and water-retention capacity of the soil, effectively alleviating drought stress to tobacco seedlings.

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