Hydrogels in the natural environment – history and technologies

Abstract

The growing competition between companies involved in the cultivation of plants, forces the research and development departments to search for new technologies and preparations to achieve better results in these fields. No less important factor determining the choice of technologies and preparations for use in the cultivation of plants, is their impact on the environment. By many years reckless actions (over-fertilization, intensive use of chemical plant protection products, irrigation) the natural environment is constantly degraded. Problems are also caused by capricious climate changes, causing either heavy rains or periods of prolonged drought. The superabsorbent technology seems to be a great opportunity. The solution used for years in the production in technical usage, today has the chance to help agriculture in the fight against drought. The developing technology allows to produce fully biodegradable products that perform the function of soil water storage for plants. Hydrogels designed for agricultural purposes are dedicated to the natural environment, in the same time are allowing to limit the negative effects of drought and revitalize natural resources. Basic economic and social benefits: reducing the need for irrigation by about 20–50% preventing the effects of water stress and drought, limitation of fertilizer doses by approx. 30% through the “intelligent” way of release of nutrients (fertilizers) within the root system, protection of the natural environment against the effects of over-fertilization and land salinity. limiting the leaching of fertilizers into deeper soil parts, protection of groundwater, limiting the intensity of care treatments by approx. 9%, increase in yield by approx. 15%.