National research Development Corporation

Technology Offer
Super-absorbent Hydrogel
The Hydrogels has been extensively reported the world wide as well as in India for diverse applications, including agriculture. There have been efforts to utilize these materials as water economy aid in agriculture. However, their serious constraints like fragile structure of hydrogels particularly at higher temperatures, high rate of biodegradability, reduced water absorption capacity under practical use situations, purely synthetic origin, etc have restricted in their promotion and use in agriculture. A process has been developed for preparation of new type of hydrogel which overcomes such limitations. Process The process developed for the preparation of hydrogel consists of mixing the Monomer, crosslinker, initiator in the prescribed manner, then carry out reaction for preparing derivative, further reaction to yield intermediate which produces Hydrogel. The product so obtained remains stable under high temperature conditions (50-600 C), possesses water absorption potential upto 35000% and remains stable in soil for long period. Salient Features Water Soil Reduce evapotranspiration, Enrich soil gradually Watering frequency reduced Severe water stress in plants prevented Erosion Limitation Form aggregates with soil particlesReduce effect of wind erosionReduce effect of water erosion Forestry Useful in nurseries Reduce transplantation shock

Make reforestation successful Agriculture Reduce drought effects Enable crop production in arid areas Landscaping Reduce watering frequency and leaching Provide continuous water supply in root zone

Application: The hydrogel has been evaluated and found useful in: High tech horticulture and floriculture Dryland agriculture Nursery raising in soil less medium Comparative rate of Establishment

The Hydrogels have also been utilized on a preliminary scale in the following two applications: 1. As a medium to entrap Comparative Root growth

pesticide to combat situation based pests in agriculture is the advantages of improved water and nutrient use

efficiency. 2. As a useful adjuvant in

formulating certain biological organism in a manner that the energy requirement of the organisms is minimized, resulting in an advantage of extended shelf life under harsh environmental conditions.

Test Results:

Preliminary data on the field evaluation of the hydrogel has been generated in the raising of nursery of chrysanthemum and tomato in hi-tech poly house horticulture and floriculture and in field on mungbean and transplanted tomato.
50-75% enhancement of water use efficiency has been observed in chrysanthemum and

mungbean
Drastic reduction (32%) in the frequency of fertigation has been observed in tomato

nursery as compared to control, thus resulting in enhanced water and nutrient management efficiency. Still another feature of the hydrogel was a significant reduction in the nursery raising period of plants (18 days as compared to 28 days in control).

Field Trial Results

Without Hydrogel

With Hydrogel and Aqua-ferti

Very encouraging results on improvement of crop health through improved water and nutrient use efficiency have been obtained in trials carried out by private industry at three locations in adjoining states of Delhi.

Technology developed at :
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India

For details, contact:

A. Pradhan Head of Office National Research Development Corporation (A Government of India Enterprise) 20-22, Zamroodpur Community Centre, Kailash Colony Extension, New Delhi 110 048; India. Phone: +91-11-29240401-08; Fax: +91-11-29240409-10; E-mail: write2@nrdc.in , Website : www.nrdcindia.com