Biotech Today

A cross-linked water absorbing polymer, known as a hydrogel, essentially absorbs aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding with water molecules. This synthetic polymer has ability to hold onto large amounts of moisture for a longer time. Thus, acting as a reservoir to store and release a steady stream of water and nutrients. It is an effective tool in conserving adequate amounts of water fastly in soil and providing water and dissolved nutrients slowly to the plants over an extended period when the rhizosphere zone starts drying up (Yazdani, et al., 2022). Hydrogel can improve the soil’s capacity to hold onto water by altering the physical properties of the soil, such as the apparent and actual densities and pore spaces. When moisture is scarce for an extended length of time, having more water available in the soil helps to prevent water stress. Hydrophilic functional groups attached to the polymer give the hydrogel its ability to absorb moisture, while the cross-links between network chains give it its resistance to dissolution (Kalhapure et al., 2016). Hydrogel can also reduce irrigation frequency and water lixiviation, which helps plants that have less access to water survive.