Gel-forming Soil Conditioners of Combined Action: Field Trials in Agriculture and Urban Landscaping

Abstract

The article summarizes multivariate field trials of gel-forming soil conditioners for agriculture and urban landscaping in various climatic conditions from arid (O.A.E., Uzbekistan) to humid (Moscow region, Russia). The field test program included environmental monitoring of weather data, temperature, water–air regimes, salinity, alkalinity, and biological activity of various soils (sandy and loamy sandy Arenosols, Retisols, loamy Serozems), productivity and yield of plants (lawns, vegetables) and their quality, including pathogen infestation. The evolutionary line of polymer superabsorbents from radiation-crosslinked polyacrylamide (1995) to the patented “Aquapastus” material (2014–2020) with amphiphilic fillers and biocidal additives demonstrated not only success, but also the main problems of using hydrogels in soils (biodegradation, osmotic collapse, etc.), as well as their technological solutions. Along with innovative materials, our know-how consisted in the intelligent soil design of capillary barriers for water accumulation and antipathogenic and antielectrolyte protection of the rhizosphere. Gel-forming polymer conditioners and new technologies of their application increase the productivity of plant crops and the quality of biomass by 30–50%, with a 1.3–2-fold saving of water resources and reliable protection of the topsoil from pathogens and secondary salinization. The results can be useful to a wide range of specialists from chemical technologists to agronomists and landscapers.