Application of Water-absorbent Polymer for Seedling Plantation in Sandy Region

• Published in: Journal of the Japanese Society of Revegetation Technology Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 18 - 27
• Main Authors: OKUMURA, Takenobu, DUAN, Ke-qin, TANAKA, Kazuo, NAKAYAMA, Akihiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY OF REVEGETATION TECHNOLOGY 1990
• ISSN: 0916-7439; 0916-7439
• DOI: 10.7211/jjsrt.16.18

Survival of trees planted in sandy regions, especially in semi-arid area, depends on laborious watering. The present report outlines green house and field experiments on a labor saving plantation by mingling water-absorbent polymer in beds. The effects of mixing water-absorbent polymer in the bed soil were determined to be as follows: (1) In case of sufficient and frequent watering, the mere presence of absorbent polymer is significant. In conditions of insufficient watering, mixing polymer at a higher component (examined at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% contents in weight) can stimulate seedling growth. The possibility of damage from too much mixing still remains, however. Research is needed to determine the maximum dose. (2) In individual tests, the polymer showed better influence on seeding growth than fertilizer. The effects of fertilizer were strengthened by water holded in polymer. (3) In the polymer mixed sand beds, the range of earth temperature are moderated, besides the expected increase in soil moisture available. These effects become stronger over time. In the semi-arid sandy regions, a numbers of seedlings are withering away. The waterabsorbent polymer will be not expensive, if plantation was successful with a higher survival rate.