Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp2 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Mitigating water scarcity in arid sandy soil using a biodegradable superabsorbent polymer: Effects on productivity, soil health and nutrient dynamics in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13966
Submitted
3 February 2026
Published
05-05-2026

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of EF Polymer (Fasal Amrit) on the germination, growth, yield and water requirement of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) in sandy soil during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024. The experiment was conducted at BAIF’s Desert Research Centre, Undkha, Rajasthan, under the technical guidance of the Central Research Station (CRS), Uruli Kanchan, Pune. The experiment comprised 10 treatments evaluating three application rates of Fasal Amrit (15, 20 and 25 kg ha-1) in combination with 100, 85 and 75 % of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF), along with a control treatment receiving 100 % RDF without polymer application.  Application of Fasal Amrit at 20 kg ha-1 combined with 85 % of the RDF resulted in the highest fresh pod yield across both cropping seasons, outperforming all other treatments. Treatments receiving Fasal Amrit at 20 and 25 kg ha-1 in combination with 100 % RDF ranked next in yield performance. Application of Fasal Amrit at 20 kg ha-1 combined with 85 % RDF reduced the number of irrigations from nine (control) to six and extended the irrigation interval up to 14 days, demonstrating enhanced soil moisture retention and improved water-use efficiency across both years.

References

  1. 1. Abrisham ES, Jafari M, Tavili A, Rabii A, Chahoki ZMA, Zare S, et al. Effects of a super absorbent polymer on soil properties and plant growth for use in land reclamation. Arid Land Res Manag. 2018;32:407–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15324982.2018.1506526
  2. 2. El-Asmar J, Jaafar H, Bashour I, Farran MT, Saoud IP. Hydrogel banding improves plant growth and water use efficiency in calcareous soils. Clean Soil Air Water. 2017;45:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201700251
  3. 3. Kreye C, Bouman BAM, Castaneda AR, Lampayan RM, Faronilo JE, Lactaoen AT, et al. Yield failure in tropical aerobic rice. Field Crops Res. 2009;111:197–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2008.12.007
  4. 4. Reddy P, Rani B, Rao MS. Effect of superabsorbent polymers on nutrient mobility. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2020;20:1123–34.
  5. 5. Wu H, Li Z, Song W, Bai S. Effects of superabsorbent polymers on soil moisture migration. J Clean Prod. 2021;279:123841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123841
  6. 6. Yadav R, Kumar S, Siddiqui MZ, Khan N, Kumar A, Kumar S, et al. Integrated effects of irrigation scheduling, Pusa hydrogel and foliar micronutrients on yield attributes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). J Sci Res Rep. 2025;31(11):278–89. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i113667
  7. 7. Yu J, Shainberg I, Yan YL, Shi JG, Levy GJ, Mamedov AI. Super-absorbents and semiarid soil properties. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 2011;75:2305–13. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2010.0397
  8. 8. Lindsay WL, Schwab AP. The chemistry of iron in soils and its availability to plants. J Plant Nutr. 1982;5(4–7):821–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904168209363012
  9. 9. Bai W, Zhang H, Liu B, Wu Y, Song JQ. Effects of super-absorbent polymers on soil physical and chemical properties under different wetting and drying cycles. Soil Use Manag. 2010;26:253–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2010.00271.x
  10. 10. Da Cunha Leme Filho JF, Ortiz BV, Balkcom KS, Damianidis D, Knappenberger TJ, Dougherty M. Evaluation of irrigation scheduling methods and nitrogen rates on corn production. Int J Agron. 2020;8869383. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8869383
  11. 11. Abobatta WF. Impact of hydrogel polymer in agricultural sector. Adv Agric Environ Sci. 2018;1(2):59–64. https://doi.org/10.30881/aaeoa.00011
  12. 12. Akhter J, Mahmood K, Malik KA. Effects of hydrogel polymer on water use efficiency and plant growth. Agric Water Manag. 2004;66:65–76.
  13. 13. Islam MR, Panda RK. Hydrogel application in agriculture: effects on soil properties and water use efficiency. Agric Water Manag. 2015;152:123–34.
  14. 14. Elshafie HS, Camele I. Applications of absorbent polymers for sustainable plant protection and crop yield. Sustainability. 2021;13:3253. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063253
  15. 15. Huttermann A, Orikiriza LJB, Agaba H. Application of superabsorbent polymers for improving the ecological chemistry of degraded or polluted lands. Clean Soil Air Water. 2009;37:517–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.200900048
  16. 16. Li P, Zhou Z, Zhang Y. Influence of superabsorbent polymer on rhizosphere environment. Appl Soil Ecol. 2022;175:104424.
  17. 17. Verma AK, Singh V, Yadav R. Conditioning effects of biodegradable superabsorbent polymer and organic amendments on growth and yield of gerbera. Scientia Hortic. 2019;253:78–84.
  18. 18. Kumar V, Sharma P, Sharma S. Influence of soil amendments on nodulation and nutrient uptake in chickpea. Legume Res. 2019;42(5):643–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2018.1555850
  19. 19. Kumar V, Sharma P, Sharma S. Influence of soil conditioners on nodulation and root growth of chickpea. Legume Res. 2020;43(7):1056–62.
  20. 20. Gholamhoseini M. Evaluation of sesame genotypes under different irrigation treatments. Agron J. 2020;112:1794–804. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20167
  21. 21. Mi J, Gregorich EG, Xu S, McLaughlin NB, Ma B, Liu J. Effect of bentonite amendment on soil hydraulic parameters. Field Crops Res. 2017;212:107–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.07.009
  22. 22. Singh R, Sharma V, Kumar P. Effect of hydrogel on soil moisture conservation. Indian J Agron. 2019;64(4):532–8.
  23. 23. Farrell C, Ang XQ, Rayner JP. Water-retention additives increase plant available water in green roof substrates. Ecol Eng. 2013;52:112–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.12.098
  24. 24. Sarfaraz Q, Shehzad M, Arshad M. Effect of hydrogels on soybean under moisture stress. J Plant Nutr. 2021;44(14):2076–88.
  25. 25. Khan MA, Umer M, Jamil M. Effect of superabsorbent polymer on mungbean under drought. Int J Agric Biol. 2020;24(3):533–40.
  26. 26. Nisar M, Shafi M, Bakht J. Soil moisture conservation using hydrogels in legumes. Sarhad J Agric. 2019;35(4):1185–94.
  27. 27. Singh A, Kumar S. Effect of water-absorbing polymer on green gram. J Agrometeorol. 2020;22(1):52–7.
  28. 28. Mir SA, Kumar A, Singh B, Kaur S. Hydrogel-based water management in maize. Indian J Agron. 2017;62(4):460–4.
  29. 29. Patil RT, Deshmukh S, Thorat S. Effect of hydrogel on soybeans under rainfed conditions. Int J Chem Stud. 2018;6(4):1728–32.
  30. 30. Sharma R, Tiwari S, Singh D. Evaluation of hydrogels in kharif legumes. Indian J Soil Conserv. 2019;47(3):285–90.
  31. 31. Shukla A, Singh R, Tiwari P. Influence of hydrogels on micronutrient availability. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 2020;51:2154–65.
  32. 32. Saini AK, Patel AM, Chaudhary PP, Saini LH. Impact of irrigation, fertility and hydrogel on pearl millet. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2018;7:2914–18.
  33. 33. Xu S, Zhang L, Zhou L, Mi J, McLaughlin NB, Liu J. Water absorbing amendments on potato growth. Agric Eng Int CIGR J. 2018;20:9–18.
  34. 34. Yu J, Shi JG, Dang PF, Mamedov AI, Shainberg I, Levy GJ. Soil and polymer properties affecting water retention. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 2012;76:1758–67. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2011.0387
  35. 35. Mishra A, Pradhan A. Effect of superabsorbent polymer on nutrient uptake. Indian J Soil Conserv. 2021;49(2):180–7.
  36. 36. Neethu TM, Dubey PK, Kaswala AR. Effect of hydrogel application on soil moisture retention and productivity of crops under water-limited conditions. Int J Chem Stud. 2018;6(3):3154–7.
  37. 37. Chibuike GU, Obiora SC. Heavy metal polluted soils: effect on plants and bioremediation methods. Appl Environ Soil Sci. 2014:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/752708
  38. 38. Fageria NK, Baligar VC, Clark RB. Micronutrients in crop production. Adv Agron. 2002;77:185–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(02)77015-6

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.