International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(9), pp. 317-324, 2013 Available online at http://www.ijsrpub.

com/ijsrk ISSN: 2322-4541; 2013 IJSRPUB http://dx.doi.org/10.12983/ijsrk-2013-p317-324

Full Length Research Paper The Effect of Superabsorbent Polymers on the Water Holding Capacity and Water Potential of Karkhe Noor Sandy Soils
Heydar Ali Kashkuli1*, Narges Zohrabi2
1

Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan, Iran 2 Young Researchers Club, Khouzestan Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran *Corresponding Author: Email: kashkulihda@gmail.com
Received 30 June 2013; Accepted 22 July 2013

Abstract. Superabsorbent polymers are used in agriculture for the purpose of increasing water use efficiency in arid and semiarid regions. In this research two kinds of superabsorbent polymers, Super AB A200 and Herbosorb were used on sandy soils of Karkhe Noor river bank near Hamidieh. The effect of 5 concentration levels of 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 2 and 4 grams per kilogram of soil in 3 replications was studied on the parameters of soil moisture characteristic curve using RETC program and Rosetta database. It was observed that fitting of the data to the RETC model was better compared to Rosetta. Statistical analysis of the research results show that for sandy soils in these experiments there was a significant difference at one percent level for all the polymers used and the control treatment at suctions of 0.3, 1, 3, 5 and 15 bars. On the other hand for the different concentration levels of 4, 2, 0.8, 0.6 and 0.3 g/kg soil, volumetric soil moisture content showed a significant difference at one percent level. Among the superabsorbents used A200 with application rate of 4 g/kg soil resulted in the highest effect. Soil available water for plant use showed an increase compared to the control treatment. It was finally concluded that the application of 4 gram Super AB A200 and Herbosorb per kilogram soil increased soil available water about 350 and 320 percent respectively. Key words: Model of characteristic moisture curve, sandy soil, superabsorbent polymers, water holding capacity in soil.

1. INTRODUCTION Water use efficiency is one of the main concerns in sustainable agriculture development in arid and semiarid regions. Water holding capacity of sandy soils is very low and thus requires very frequent irrigation applications in arid regions leading to greater losses and lower irrigation efficiencies. Leaching of salts and chemical fertilizers is also considerable under these conditions. One of the recent methods for more optimum utilization of water resources under these conditions is the use of superabsorbent polymers. Superabsorbent polymers are hydrophobic gels called hydrogels that absorb a lot of water, salts and physiologic solutions. These polymers not only absorb and hold a lot of water but can also act as miniature water holding reservoirs that supply water for plant use in the time of need. Agricultural superabsorbent chemicals were introduced in 1970 by American researchers. Several American, European and Asian companies are at present producing these polymers. Yearly production of these polymers reached 1290 m tons in 2005. Sohrab (2003) investigated the effect of adding six different types of water absorbents, two types of superabsorbents and four natural water absorbents at 4 levels, to 3 different soils i.e. sandy, loam and clay textures. They also indicated that increasing the level of superabsorbent addition for all soil types caused an increase in the water holding

capacity at saturation (s) and residual volumetric water content (r). Superabsorbent polymers showed a greater effect on increasing soil water holding capacity. With the addition of superabsorbent polymers, capillary pressure soil moisture models of Brooks Corey and Van- Genuchten showed a better fitting of data compared to the program using Rosetta database. The slope of the moisture characteristic curve (n) decreased for all the textures examined. This decrease was more in sandy soils, indicating a lower rate of water loss. In these soils air entry pressure (hb = 1/) increased in sandy soils, but in loamy and clayey soils, with the addition of superabsorbent polymers it decreased. Plant available water was higher for all textures compared to control. The effect of using polymers for increasing soil porosity was more pronounced in sandy soils due to higher expansion of polymers in such soils which caused 4 times in microporosity compared the control. In loamy soils the increase in capillarity and air filled porosity was to the same extent. In clayey soils air filled porosity did not show major changes except for higher polymer concentrations. Montazar (2008) examined the effect of Stakosorb superabsorbent on the advance phase and infiltration parameters of soils in furrow irrigation and showed that by increasing the amount of superabsorbent polymers soil infiltration and advance time in furrow irrigation increased. Doraji et al.

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(2009) studied the effect of different level of superabsorbent polymers of Super AB and soil salinity on the water holding capacity of sandy, loamy and clay soils and reported that polymers used in soils specially in sandy soils can be helpful for crop production in arid and semi-arid climates by increasing the water holding capacity and decreasing soil solution salinity. Kabiri (2002) reported that these materials besides increasing the water holding capacity of light soils can also improve the infiltration problems of heavy soils also. Besides water holding capacity in soils, superabsorbent polymers increase soil air content due to continual volume change as a result of expansion and contraction. Karimi et al. (2007) reported that addition of Igita as the soil conditioner improves soil physical characteristics indirectly affecting plant growth, delaying plant wilting, increasing irrigation interval and hence resulting in efficient use of irrigation water. Rajaee and Raeisi (2010) showed that A200 polymer use under dry conditions results in the improvement of microbiological and biochemical properties. Lesijevsky (2009) investigated the use of hydrogel chemical effect on water holding capacity of sandy soils of forest nursery soils and found that water

holding capacity especially at pF less than 2 increases. This is due to the fact that hydrogel polymer prevents gravitation water from downward movement. Agaba et al. (2010) studied that effect of hydrogel application on different soils for water holding capacity evaluation and plant survival under drought conditions. They found that for 8 plant species out of 9 planted, evapotranspiration decreases for application of 0.4 percent by weight hydrogel for all the soil types due to a decrease in hydraulic conductivity by hydrogel application. In this research the effect of 2 types of superabsorbent SuperAB A200 and Herbosorb on the parameters of soil moisture characteristic curve are studied by matching collected moisture-suction data to two well known soil moisture modes. Furthermore volumetric water content at each suction and the amount of plant available water for the sandy soils of Karkhe Noor river banks in Khouzestan province are also evaluated. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sandy soil material was collected from a field near Karkhe Noor River close to Hamidieh town. Physical and chemical soil properties are shown in table 1.

Table 1: Physical and chemical soil properties Sand (percent) 90 Silt (percent) 2 Clay (percent) 8 texture sandy Bulk density 1.7 gr/cm Real specific gravity 2.61 gr/cm Volumetric water content (percent) 0.7 Saturation moisture content (percent) 30.1 pH 7.8 ECe of saturation extract (ds/m) 3.5 In order to compare water absorption capacity of polymers in distilled water, tap water and soil saturation extract, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 grams of each polymer was put in the above solutions for 24 hours and the swollen gels were weighed. The ratio between the original gel weigh before swelling to the weight after swelling was evaluated on the degree of swelling. Super AB A200 was the product of Rahab Rezin Company under the license of Iranian Petrochemical Company and Herbosorb made by Herbosorb Company of England was used. They were mixed with soil at 5 concentrations of 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 2 and 4 gram per kilogram of soil in 3 replications. Soils moisture content was measured at 7 suctions (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 5 and 15 atmosphere) using pressure plate apparatus. Metal cylinders of 4 cm diameter and 2.2 cm height were used. A filter paper and rubber band were used to seal the bottom of cylinders that were filled with the mixture of 30 grams of soil with superabsorbent at 5 levels described above. Prepared samples were put on a saturated sand box for 24 hours for the samples to reach saturation. The saturated samples were than weighed and put in the pressure plate apparatus with pressures regulated at 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 5 and 15 atmosphere for 24 hours. After reaching equilibrium indicated by outflow stoppage at each applied suction, the samples were taken out and weighed before and after drying for 24 hours at 105C for the calculation of the water content at an specified suction. Soil moisture characteristic curve parameters of Brooks Corey and Van Genuchten equations, were derived using RETC curve fitting programs. The equations are:

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International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge (IJSRK), 1(9), pp. 317-324, 2013

= r + (s - r) (h)-

(1) (2)

r (s r )[1 ( h) n ] m

In which s, r, , n and are volumetric saturated moisture content, volumetric residual moisture content, reciprocal of air entry suction, slope of the moisture characteristic curve between field capacity and wilting point and grain size distribution index (Van Genochten, 1991). Rosetta program uses the neural network logic for the estimation of three parameters using soil texture data an input (Schaap and Bouten, 1996).

Soil pedotransfer functions relate easily obtainable soil parameters like bulk density, soil texture, organic matter and suctions at 33 and 1500 Kilo Pascal to costly measured properties like soil moisture characteristic curve h () and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Water absorption rate of A200 and Herbosorb polymers in water of different electrical conductivities is shown in figure (1).

Water absorption rate (percent)

Electrical conductivity (ds) Fig. 1: Polymers water absorption rate of different electrical conductivities.

3.1. The effect of superabsorbent polymers on the parameters of soil moisture characteristics curve 3.1.1. Saturation moisture content (s) Generally saturation moisture content (s) increases with increasing added superabsorbent rate. The increase in s estimated by the 2 models of RETC were the same and showed a better fitting compared to s of Rosetta. For sandy soils the highest s value was for A200 polymer used. As to the superabsorbent used, the rates 4, 2, 0.8, 0.6 and 0.3 gave higher values of (s), respectively as shown in figure (2).

3.1.2. Residual moisture content (r) According figure (3) results of the effect of both polymers used shows that r values increase by increasing the rate of polymer application. In both cases r values derived by using Van- Genuchten and Brooks Coreys model were equal and showed a better fitting compared to Rosetta. The highest amount of r was for A200 superabsorbent at a rate of 4 grams per kilogram that was 230 percent higher than the control sample.

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Kashkuli and Zohrabi The Effect of Superabsorbent Polymers on the Water Holding Capacity and Water Potential of Karkhe Noor Sandy Soils

Residual volumetric moisture content of soil (percent)

Saturation moisture content of soil (percent) Different levels of polymer (gr / kg of soil) Fig. 2: Variation of soil saturation moisture content (s) with polymers A200 and Herbosorb

Different levels of polymer (g/kg of soil) Fig. 3: Variation of residual volumetric moisture content with different levels of A200 and Herbosorb polymers

3.1.3. Slope of soil moisture characteristic curve (n) By adding superabsorbents to the soil, the slope of the soil moisture characteristic curve decreases due to an increase in water holding capacity. The lowest value of n was obtained from Brooks Corey and Van Genuchten matching of measured values. Van Genuchten model gave a higher value of n with

increasing amount of polymer used whilst as was shown previously n value decreases with increasing polymer rate for both models of Brooks Corey and Van Genuchten. Therefore it can be concluded that Van Genuchten model for estimation of n in sandy soils is reliable. Table (2) shows n values of Brooks Corey for all the treatments including the control treatment.

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Table 2: n values of Brooks Corey and control treatment for different levels of superabsorbent polymer

Superabsorbent

Levels different of polymer (gr/kg) 2 0.8 0.6 0.3 0.62 0.63 0.64 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.71 0.71

Control

A200 Herbosorb

0.59 0.60

0.74

3.1.4. Air entry pressure (hb = 1/) In sandy soils due to larger pore sizes, water drains out at lower suctions. In other words is large in such soils. Adding superabsorbent polymers to such soils at higher dosage causes their expansion and extension of sandy pores, thus increasing the contact between soil

and water requiring higher suctions for water release (Bybordi (1993), Alizade (2009). Results obtained from all the 3 models indicate a decrease in and an increase in air entry pressure. A200 and Herbosorb used at 4 grams per kilogram of soil gives the least value for . Values of of Brooks Corey equation in comparison with the control is shown in table (3).

Table 3: Values of of Brooks and Corey in comparison with the control d ue to the use of different levels of superabsorbent polymer

4 0.024 0.025

Polymer dosage rate (g/kg) 2 0.8 0.6 0.043 0.044 0.047 0.043 0.045 0.047

Superabsorbent 0.3 0.049 0.049 Control 0.054 0.054 A200 Herbosorb

3.2. Soil moisture characteristic curve Soil moisture characteristics curve for each polymer based on the comparison between different levels of superabsorbent polymers used and control treatment is given in Figs (4) and (5). Study of soil moisture curves in the low moisture suction range of 0-3 bar to higher range of 3-15 bar reveals that: (a) At low suction most of the water absorbed by the polymer is released. For example by application of 4 gram A200 polymer per kilogram soil (Fig 4), soil moisture drops from 49.64 to 14.25 percent. Moisture release at low suction is therefore considered to be an advantage of superabsorbents because plants can absorb most of the water stored at low suction. (b) Comparison of residual moisture content at high suctions (3-15 bar) and the moisture content at low suctions (0-3 bar) with control treatment show that the difference between the residual moisture content of all treatments compared to the control treatment increases with increasing polymer application rate. For example at the application rate of 4 gram A200 polymer per kilogram soil, soil moisture

increases by 250 percent compared to the control in the moisture suction ranges. 3.3. Analysis of moisture characteristic curve at different suctions 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 5 and 15 bar suction Generally at 5 measured suctions significant difference at 1% level was observed between 2 polymers A200 and Herbosorb used and the control treatment. On the other hand between application rates of 4, 2, 0.8, 0.6 and 0.3 gram per kilogram, significant differences at 1% level of soil moisture content at seven suctions was observed. For sandy soils the effect of both polymers for increasing soil moisture at each suction was considerable and close to each other. Statistical analysis shows that A200 polymer application at 4g/kg gives the largest increase in moisture content at any suction. Volumetric moisture percent increases by 105 to about 300 percent compared to the control depending on the application rate.

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Fig. 4: The effect of superabsorbent A200 application rate in g/kg soil on the soil moisture characteristic curve of sandy soils

Fig. 5: The effect of superabsorbent Herbosorb application rate in g/kg soil on the soil moisture characteristic curve of sandy soils.

3.4. Plant available moisture (0.3 to 15 bars) For sandy soils used in this research, available soil moisture increase compared to the control treatment was significant at 1% level for the polymers used. Table (4) shows soil moisture percent at field capacity (FC), wilting point (PWP) and available soil moisture for the control and polymer application

treatments. According to table (4) soil moisture at FC and PWP increase 110 to about 280 percent. The largest increase of available moisture was due to A200 polymer use at a rate of 4 g/kg application which is 344 percent greater than the control. Herbosorb however showed an increase of 317 percent compared to the control.

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Table 4: Volumetric water content at FC, PWP and available water for different superabsorbent polymers of sandy soils
Polymer dosage rate (g/kg) 4 2 0.8 21.08 18.61 10.62 8.96 10.46 9.65 15.34 13.43 9.32 7.46 6.02 5.97 12.72 10.68 7.79 6.29 4.93 4.39 Control 0.6 11.03 9.76 6.62 5.82 4.41 3.94 0.3 8.77 8.39 5.21 4.99 3.56 3.4 7.32 4.28 3.04 Super AB A200 Herbosorb Super AB A200 Herbosorb Super AB A200 Herbosorb Field Capacity Wilting Point Plant Available Moisture Polymer type Moisture Condition

4. CONCLUSION The following conclusions can be drawn from this research: (a) By increasing salinity polymer swelling decreases. A200 swelling rate is greater than Herbosorb; (b) Improvement of soil structure is obtained by using superabsorbent polymers; (c) Percent soil moisture at saturation and residual moisture content as well as soil moisture content at any suction increase considerably by polymer application and is higher for A200 compared to Herbosorb; (d) Soil moisture is released of low suctions; (e) Increase in available moisture occurs at high suctions; (f) At high polymer application rates, available moisture increases by more than 300 percent; (g) At present, application of polymers may not be economically recommendable due to the price of these chemicals in Iran, but considering that their application can increase the available soil moisture several fold, this will reduce the number of irrigations and therefore reduce the cost of irrigation applications which make their use economical if water pricing policies are implemented. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The paper presents part of a research project by the title of "Investigation of hydraulic characteristics of sandy soils under the application of Superabsorbents in the department of irrigation, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Khouzestan Iran. The authors thank Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan Iran for their valuable support during the study. REFERENCES Agaba H, Orikiriza, LJB, Esegu JFO, Obua J, Kabasa JD (2010). Effects of Hydrogel Amendment to Different Soils on Plant Available Water and Survival of Trees under Drought Conditions. Clean Soil, Air, Water, 38 (4): 328 335. Brooks R H, Corey A T (1964). Hydraulic Properties of Porous Media. Hydrology Paper, Colorado State Univ. Fort Collins, Colorado, No3.

Kabiri K (2002). An Introduction to the uses of Superabsorbent Hydrogel Polymers in Different Industries. Proceeding of the Second Workshop on the use of Superabsorbent Hydogels, Tehran, Iran, p 1-32. Karimi A, Noshadi M, Ahmadzade M (2007). The Effect of Superabsorbent Polymer Application on Soil, Water, Plant Growth and Irrigation Period. Journal of Water and Soil Science (Science and Technology), 46(13): 403-414. Leciejewski P (2009). The Effect of Hydrogel Additives on the Water Retention Curve on Sandy Soil from Forest Nursery in Julinek. Journal of Water and Land Development, 13a: 239-247. Montazar A (2008). Study of the Effect of Stockosorb Superabsorbent Polymer on the Flow Advance and Infiltration Parameters of Furrow Irrigation. Journal of water and soil, 22(2): 341-357. Rajaee F, Raeesi F (2010). The Role of Superab A200 on Soil Moisture Stress and its Effect on Nitrogen Availability and Enzymatic Activity of Urea in Soils. Iranian Journal of Water Research, 14(7): 13-24. Schaap MG, Bouten W (1996). Modeling Water Retention Curves of Sandy Soils using Neural Networks. Water Resource, 32:3033-3040. Seyed Doraji S, Golchin A, Ahmady SH (2009). Effect of Different Application Rates of Superab A200 and Soil Salinity on the Water Holding Capacity of 3 Sand, Loam and Clay Soil Textures. Journal of Soil and Water, 24(2): 306-316. Sohrab F (2003). Evaluation of the Effect of Superabsorbent Polymers on the Water Holding Capacity of Ardestan Soils. MS thesis, Irrigation and Drainage Department, Esfahan Sanaati University. 132 pages. Van Genuchten MTh, Leij FJ, Yates SR (1991). The RETC Code for Quantifying the Hydraulic Functions of Unsaturated Soils. Res. Rep. 600291 065. USEPA, Ada, Ok. Van Gneuchten, MTh (1980). A Closed-Form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 44: 892-898.

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Dr Heidar. A. Kashkuli is professor of irrigation & drainage at science of research branch of Islamic Azad University. He studied for his Ph.D. at Colorado state university, M.Sc. at the university of Wageningen The Netherlands and B.Sc. at the American university of Beirat. His teaching and research interests is in the field of drainage, groundwater, flow through porous media and water quality. He has many years of experience as consultant engineer and supervisor. He was appointed as distinguished irrigation & drainage scholar in 2009.

Dr. Narges Zohrabi holds a Ph.D. in hydrology and water resources from the Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, and M.Sc. in irrigation and drainage from the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. Her core research interests include hydroclimate parameter variability and climate changes, flood frequency analysis, hydrological time series, water quality. Currently, she is an Assistant professor of irrigation department, science and research branch, Islamic Azad University, Khouzestan, Iran.

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