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Organic Capillary Barriers for Soil Water Accumulation in Agriculture: Design, Efficiency and Stability

Author

Listed:
  • Andrey Smagin

    (Soil Science Department and Eurasian Center for Food Security, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia)

  • Nadezhda Sadovnikova

    (Soil Science Department and Eurasian Center for Food Security, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia)

  • Victoria Krivtsova

    (Soil Science Department and Eurasian Center for Food Security, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia)

  • Christina Korchagina

    (Institute of Forest Science, Russian Academy of Sciences (ILAN), 21, Sovetskaya, Uspenskoe, Moscow region 143030, Russia)

  • Pavel Krasilnikov

    (Soil Science Department and Eurasian Center for Food Security, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia)

Abstract

Acute shortage of water resources and high unproductive water losses are the key problems of irrigated agriculture in arid regions. One of the possible solutions is to optimize soil water retention using natural and synthetic polymer water absorbers. Our approach uses the HYDRUS-1D design to optimize the placement of organic water absorbents such as peat and composite hydrogels in the soil profile in the form of water-storing capillary barriers. Field testing of the approach used a water balance greenhouse experiment with the cultivation of butternut squash (butternut squash ( Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne, 1786)) under sprinkler irrigation with measurement of the soil moisture profile and unproductive water losses in the form of lysimetric water outflow. In addition, the biodegradation rate of organic water absorbents was studied at the soil surface and at a depth of 20 cm. Organic capillary barriers reduced unproductive water losses by 40–70%, retaining water in the topsoil and increasing evapotranspiration by 70–130% with a corresponding increase in plant biomass and fruit yield. The deepening of organic soil modifiers to the calculated depth not only allowed capillary barriers to form, but also prevented their biodegradation. The best results in soil water retention, plant growth and yield according to the “dose-effect” criterion were obtained for a composite superabsorbent with peat filling of an acrylic polymer matrix. The study showed good compliance between the HYDRUS design and the actual efficiency of capillary barriers as an innovative technology for irrigated agriculture using natural and synthetic water absorbents.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrey Smagin & Nadezhda Sadovnikova & Victoria Krivtsova & Christina Korchagina & Pavel Krasilnikov, 2024. "Organic Capillary Barriers for Soil Water Accumulation in Agriculture: Design, Efficiency and Stability," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-29, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:9:p:1623-:d:1479134
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. J. Akhter & K. Mahmood & K.A. Malik & A. Mardan & M. Ahmad & M.M. Iqbal, 2004. "Effects of hydrogel amendment on water storage of sandy loam and loam soils and seedling growth of barley, wheat and chickpea," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 50(10), pages 463-469.
    2. Prakash Mallappa Munnoli & Saroj Bhosle, 2011. "Water-holding capacity of earthworms’ vermicompost made of sugar industry waste (press mud) in mono- and polyculture vermireactors," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 394-400, December.
    3. A. Rehman & R. Ahmad & M. Safdar, 2011. "Effect of hydrogel on the performance of aerobic rice sown under different techniques," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 57(7), pages 321-325.
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