The Effect of Different Levels of Superabsorbent Polymer and Water Salinity on Soil Moisture Retention

A pot experiment was carried out as a factorial in completely randomized design with superabsorbent polymer (A200) at 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g/kg soil as the first factor and different levels of salinity including 0 (ordinary water), 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 dS/m as the second factor and a total of 108 pots containing 2 kg soil. The pots contain 2 kg of a farm soil. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of super absorbent, salinity and these interactions on soil moisture and drainage water EC was at P<0.01. According to the results, super absorbent polymers application, when irrigation water is saline, is not recommended and mixture application of this polymer with organic fertilizers is suggested.