Researchers, at the University of Texas at Austin have tackled the issue of watering and fertilizing crops in a world where water resourcesre limited. They have developed a soil” that improves plant hydration and nutrient delivery. Given that agriculture uses up around 70% of freshwater enhancing water and nutrient efficiency is crucial in regions facing water scarcity.
The innovation revolves around a crafted hydrogel that is incorporated into the soil. This hydrogel absorbs water vapor from the air at night. Releases it to plant roots during the day. It also gradually supplies calcium chloride, a nutrient.
The study simulated day and night conditions with varying temperatures and humidity levels to test the soil’s effectiveness.
The team tested the new smart soil in lab experiments, growing plants in 10 grams of soil, with some including 0.1 g of hydrogel. A day/night cycle was simulated, with 12 hours of darkness at 25 °C (77 °F) and either 60% or 90% relative humidity, followed by 12 hours of simulated sunlight at 35 °C (95 °F) and 30% humidity.
The results showed significant improvements in crop growth and water efficiency. Guihua Yu, the study’s corresponding author, highlighted the potential of this new hydrogel to address global water scarcity and enhance food security by offering a more sustainable solution for modern agriculture.
Plants grown in this soil exhibited a 138% increase, in stem length compared to those grown in soil even though they needed 40% less direct watering.
“The global water scarcity coupled with a growing population has an immediate impact on food security,” said Guihua Yu, corresponding author of the study. “This new class of hydrogels offers a promising solution to meet the pressing needs of water scarcity and efficient nutrient uptake in modern sustainable agriculture.”
Future research will explore incorporating different fertilizers and conducting extended field trials to further validate the smart soil’s effectiveness. The study was published in ACS Materials Letters, marking a significant step toward more efficient agricultural practices.