AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates

AQUASORB™
Water retainers
for Soils and
Substrates
AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
General presentation
AQUASORB is a water retainer that, when incorporated into a soil or a substrate, absorbs and retains large
quantities of water and nutrients. Unlike most products that become hydrated, AQUASORB has the property
of easily releasing the absorbed water and nutrients, thereby allowing the plant to have water and nutrients
available at will as a function of the absorption – release cycles.
AQUASORB
l Increases the Water Holding Capacity of soils
l Enhances plant growth. Water and nutrients are available in the
root zone for optimal absorption by plants.
l Provides a buffer effect against climatic hazards
There are many applications in agriculture: tree planting, nurseries,
transplanting, landscaping, large scale farming etc…
COMPOSITION
AQUASORB is a superabsorbent anionic polyacrylamide polymer. It is
a crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and potassium acrylate that
is water insoluble.
HOW IT WORKS
The AQUASORB has the property of absorbing up to four hundred
times its weight in distilled water and it becomes gel.
n
m
CH2 CH
CH2 CH
C=O
C=O
NH2
O-K+
n
m
In contact with water, the polymer network expands thanks to an
osmosis process and stores the liquid into its structure.
Into the soil, the AQUASORB swells in wet conditions and readily
releases the liquid in dry conditions.
This liquid absorption/desorption cycle enhances the water availabiliy
to the roots and reduces hydric stress.
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
Methods of incorporation
Three main methods of incorporation are proposed according to the application considered.
Forestation
The AQUASORB pre-hydrated is implemented directly in the field, by
hand or with specific tools (forestation; landscaping).
1
2
3
Aquasorb
hydrated
Tap water
Potting mixes
AQUASORB is incorporated into a substrate (dry or hydrated), the
“mixed” being used for nurseries or potting mix.
2
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
Large scale farming
The AQUASORB is implemented in the sowing coulter during the crops
sowing, by using a pneumatic micro granular spreader.
Whatever the mode of incorporation is, the product has to be properly
buried into the soil, to be protected from UV radiations.
Applications
Forestery
AQUASORB is effective in the planting of trees, it makes it possible to
reduce the mortality rate due to transplanting shock and to enhance
root development and therefore bring about more rapid growth and
production. Its efficiency for Eucalyptus or coffee trees plantations
is widely recognized. Moreover, innovative methods have been
developed to incorporate the product into the soil, with a reduced
cost and a daily gain in working time.
Implementation of Eucalyptus with pre hydrated gel (Hrydroplan, Brazil).
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
AQUASORB also open up new doors to rehabilitate areas submitted
to major pedo-climatic constraints. “Biodiversity hotspots” could be
implemented in dry areas with poor soils which present important
implications for environmental projects, like the African green barrier
for instance. At countries level, it provides new keys for land use
planning.
Horticulture
Mixed into a substrate, AQUASORB permits an efficient use of water
and nutrients which are concentrated in the product. It ensures that
cuttings and transplants take root better, that seedlings grow faster
and root systems develops in a homogeneous way. It allows to free
itself from problems of hydric stress and from deficiencies. It is an ideal
solution of substrates for containers, fruits and vegetable productions
and houseplants.
With AQUASORB, field capacity of substrate increase and so strecht out
period before to reach the permanent wilting point. Thus, free water is
easily available, watering frequencies are commonly reduced by 30
to 50 %, which likewise reduces labor costs and the amount of water
used. Furthermore, during transport, AQUASORB maintains sufficient
moisture and reduces hydric stress.
Large scale farming
AQUASORB has shown its effectiveness in large scale farming,
especially at the time of germination and development of the root
network. The water (from rain or irrigation) is stored and released to
the grains and the young plants, which delays the wilting point. It
makes possible for the plants to be well established while waiting for
the water regime to become adequate. During the growing season,
the “absorption/release” cycles are beneficial to the global plants
health.
Hydrogel on corn rooting system
4
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
By buffering climatic hazards the agronomic performances are
stabilized over time, which make these technologies very attractive
for farmers, all the more so that they can implement their crops early.
It facilitates the organization of the work at farm scale: access to land
for the machines, human resources availability etc…
When incorporated with a microgranulator, the financial investment is
reasonable, the quantity of product applied being low (5 to 50 kg/ha).
It has been developed for corn, the same implementation method
can be considered for other annual crops (wheat; sunflower; cotton
etc…) and has to be adapted according to the local situations.
AQUASORB application with corn seed drill.
Hydroseeding
AQUASORB is commonly used in hydroseeding to stabilize newly
graded soils. Mixed with cellulose mulch and soil conditioners (Flobond
range), it makes it possible to maintain a minimum of surface water.
Increased moisture in the mulch mix prevents the product from drying
out quickly and provides additional moisture for seed germination
and stand establishment.
Adding AQUASORB also increases the consistency of the slurry mix
and allows the hydroseeding applicator to cover more ground by
“shooting” the mix further and more uniformed. Then, the vegetation
cover develops over the whole treated surface, there are no dry
spots without grass.
Hydroseeding application (Euro-Tec, France)
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
Technical results from some users of SAP
Impact of SAP use on Eucalyptus urophylla survival rate during the implementation phase (Brazil)
Eucalyptus Survival Rate (%)
100
80
60
75.7
85.7
85.7
90.4
97.3
Control
0g
Dry
2g
Dry
4g
Hydrated
2g
Hydrated
4g
40
20
0
Impact of SAP use on corn yield (China Agricultural University)
Corn Yield (t/ha)
10
8
6
6.8
7.6
8.1
8.8
Control
0 kg/ha
7.5
11.3
15.0
Dose kg/ha
4
2
0
Impact of AQUASORB on corn yield on large scale plots (product applied with
a microgranulator during the crop sowing)
Control
Corn Yield (t/ha)
6
5
4
10 kg/ha
3
2.94
4.17
4.42
2
1
0
6
Control
0
10
20
Dose kg/ha
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
15 kg/ha
AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
Silage corn- dry biomass (t/ha), Mexico
Corn Dry Matter (t/ha)
30
25
20
19.5
26.5
Control
0
12.5
27.8
15
10
5
0
25
Dose kg/ha
Impact of AQUASORB on tomato production (Pakistan)
Tomato Weight (g)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
88
180
262
498
Control
0
0.25
0.75
1.25
Dose g
Ind.
Blank
nb leaves/plant
84.67
nb branches/plant
10.0
fresh weight/plant
12.4
0.25%
110.0
12.3
36.5
0.75%
200.0
16.0
44.6
1.25%
348.3
20.0
90.9
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates
AQUASORB physico-chemical properties
Granular size
AQUASORB is offered in different particle sizes depending on the conditions in the soil environment. In
addition to water retention, the absorption/desorption cycle of the AQUASORB creates soil porosity
improving aeration balance.
Water absorption capacity
The water holding capacity of the AQUASORB is highly dependent on the electrolyte concentration in
water.
The absorption capacity of AQUASORB in substrates varies between 100-200 times its weight.
Influence of electrolytes on the swelling capacity
absorption (g/g)
400
Solution of NaCl
Solution of CaCl2
300
200
100
0
0
0,1
salt concentration (g/L)
0,5
Delayed Wilting Point
AQUASORB makes it possible to increase the water holding capacity of soils and to delay the wilting point.
A sandy soil treated with 3 grams of AQUASORB/kg of soil holds water twice as long as untreated soil.
Drying speed in sandy soil
25
Operating Conditions
Drying temperature: 22°C
50% Relative Humidity
Initial dry substrate weight: 2kg
1L of water was initially added into substrates
20
Soil Humidity (%)
Standardized Sand + AQUASORB @3 kg/m3
Standardized Sand
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Drying time in days
8
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
70
80
90
SNF SAS
ZAC de Milieux
42163 Andrézieux Cedex - FRANCE
Phone: + 33 (0)4 77 36 86 00
Fax: + 33 (0)4 77 36 86 96
email: [email protected]
web: www.snf.fr
10-31-1247
While SNF makes reasonable efforts to ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date, SNF makes no warranties or representations,
express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or any other aspect of the information on this document and assumes no
liability in connection
with any use of this information. Nothing herein shall be construed as a recommendation or license to use
AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
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any information found that conflicts with any patent, trademark or copyright of SNF or others, and SNF makes no representations
or warranties, express or implied that any use of this information will not infringe any such patent, trademark or copyright
All rights reserved - Publishing : Altavia St Etienne - Photos Credits: Fotolia, Hydroplan, Euro-Tec - January 2014
AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates