SYNTHESIS, PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL HYDROGEL
Keywords:
hydrogels, natural minerals, modified polysaccharides, urea, water absorption.Abstract
In this research work, agricultural hydrogels were synthesized that maintain soil moisture in agriculture and save water and mineral resources. Hydrogels were synthesized based on starch phosphates, vinyl monomers, urea and natural minerals. The degree of swelling and water retention times of the resulting hydrogel in distilled water and at different pH environments were studied. Also, the physicochemical properties of the synthesized polymer hydrogels were examined using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results of the study showed that the natural minerals added during the synthesis of the hydrogel - perlite and apatite - increased its water absorption capacity by 20% and extended the water retention time by 15%. Also, due to moisture retention around the root zone, it reduced total water consumption by
30-35%.
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References
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