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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Evaluation of hydrogels for plant preservation, conservation and growth

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.9812
Submitted
6 June 2025
Published
30-01-2026 — Updated on 05-02-2026
Versions

Abstract

Climate change, water scarcity, salinity, extreme temperatures, urbanization and the degradation of soils used for cultivating plants and crops pose multiple challenges to agricultural lands, the most significant being water scarcity and soil degradation. Faced with this situation, alternatives are being sought to enable the rational use of water. Among the sustainable alternatives to solve this problem is the use of hydrogels, which improve water retention, act as gradual nutrient releasers that enhance nutrient absorption and availability and promote crop growth and yield. They help alleviate water stress and provide a viable solution to water scarcity in plants and crops. This review provides a comprehensive, critical and objective overview of the use of hydrogels in sustainable agriculture as an innovative solution to climate change, soil degradation and water scarcity. It also highlights the benefits of hydrogels in water retention, nutrient release, plant and crop performance and hydraulic stress mitigation, adopting an ecological perspective. Furthermore, it summarizes the most recent advances research reported in the Elsevier and Google Scholar databases, emphasizing the most relevant findings related to the application of hydrogels in sustainable agriculture.

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