Effects of super-absorbent polymers on a soil-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in the field

Abstract

Super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) have been established as a soil conditioner to reduce soil water loss and increase crop yield. However, there are few studies about how SAPs affect the soil microbial community. In this study, two types of SAPs, Jaguar C (JC) and Jaguar S (JS), were applied at 200kgha-1 by bulk and spraying treatments in a field trial to investigate their effects on winter wheat growth, the soil's physical properties and microbial abundance and activity. It was found that the addition of SAPs promoted the formation of macro soil aggregates (particle size >0.25mm) and soil bacterial abundance under winter wheat cultivation. SAPs also significantly increased the soil water conte..