Effect of superabsorbent polymers on moisture retention of two contrasting soils at different suctions

One of the strategies to combat water resources deficiency and drought crisis, especially in arid and semiarid region is superabsorbents application. This study investigates the influence of some polymers on moisture behavior of two different soils. For this purpose, the experiments were carried out as factorial based on complete randomized design, with three replications. The treatments were included of two types of polymer (Tarawat and Stockosorb), each in five levels (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg soil), and two soil textures (loamy sand and sandy loam). After treatment preparation, soil moisture content was measured at 7 suctions of 0, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 15 bars. The results showed that for all suctions, the type of polymer, level and soil texture had significant influence (P