Effects of Hydrophilic Polymer on the Survival of Buttonwood Seedlings Grown Under Drought Stress

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition Vol. 30; no. 1-3; pp. 53 - 66
• Main Authors: Al-Humaid, A.I, Moftah, A.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, NJ Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application rate; Biological and medical sciences; Combretaceae; Conocarpus erectus; drought; drought tolerance; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; hydrogel; hydrophilic polymers; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; mortality; nursery crops; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; ornamental woody plants; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; plant establishment; Plant physiology and development; root growth; roots; sandy soils; seedling growth; seedlings; shoots; soil amendment; soil amendments; Soil science; soil water content; soil water potential; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; survival; water potential; water stress; Conocarpus erectus; Plant juvenile growth stage; soil amendment; Polymer; Water potential; Sporophyte; Water stress; Survival; Soil management; Hydrophily; Amendment; Water regime; Plant nutrition; Developmental stage; Hydrogel; Drought
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904160601054973

The effect of 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of the hydrophilic polymer "Stockosorb K-400" hydrogel (HG) on survival and growth of buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) seedlings grown in sandy soil under drought stress was investigated. The ability of the soil to retain water increased with increasing hydrogel concentrations. The highest level of the HG was capable of changing the typical sandy soil to a loam or even silty clay in terms of water potential and water content. The highest HG concentration prolonged the time of water loss from the soil by about 66% more than the control soil. During drought stress, the seedlings grown in 0.6% HG-mixed soil survived three times as long as those grown in the control soil. Shoot and root growth increased significantly in HG-amended soil as compared with non-amended soil. Plant water potential increased significantly with HG application, thus it aided in the establishment and growth of C. erectus seedlings under water stress conditions. There were no significant differences between 0.4% and 0.6%. The study indicated that an amendment of soil with 0.4% to 0.6% of the hydrophilic polymer "Stockosorb K-400" can be used in arid and semi-arid areas to enhance the drought tolerance of C. erectus seedlings.