SAP, super absorbent polymer, first came to me as material in baby diapers and crystal mud(as I used it to make my potted plant before). With deep study, it is also a good material for agricultural use, though not a new one. So I would like to introduce this product a little bit.
What is SAP?
They are hydrophilic polymer that can absorb and retain huge amounts of aqueous solution, usually water. The load amount can be several hundred times of its own weight and it will turn into natural gel form within seconds.It sounds like popcorn come out in a minute, while with more obvious enlargement in volume.
What's the benefits of SAP?
- To increase water retention in the ground and substrate, thus reduce the frequency of watering required and the cost of irrigation
- To reduce the leaching of nutrients thus reduce the cost of fertilization
- To care about the growth of certain plants and trees, especially in dry areas
- To improve the quality of seedlings, and allow the growth of seedlings in extremely dry areas
What's the application of SAP in agriculture?
Seeds, field crops, vegetables and fruits, trees, forest, lawn and turf, horticulture...
- As soil amendments: To improve the physical properties of soil by increasing the water absorption and water holding ability.
- As part of a controlled release system: Use SAP with liquid fertilizers, water as carrier, can be applied directly around the root parts of crops, to fully improve the utility of different nutrients.
- As seed additives, seed coating, root dip: Use SAP along with seeds hole application or ditch application to the soil around the seed to aid in seed germination and seedling establishment.
- As irrigation additive in sport turf: The water consumption of lawn and golf course is very huge. SAP can save water and the maintenance cost.
The dosage of SAP?
- As seed coating, two ways:
SAP:seed:water=1:50:200 Add water in SAP first to make hydrogel. Then mix seed with the hydrogel evenly. Wait until a coated film formed on the seed surface. Nutrients can be added when coating. If seeds are small in diameter, soil can be added in the process to make the seed not cluster together.
SAP:seed=1:30 Soak seeds in water about three hours. Filter out the water, make no water drip on the seeds. Spread out the seeds, and mix them with SAP.
- Mix with fertilizers: Prepare SAP about 45kg/ha, mix with fertilizers.
- Soil application: Prepare SAP about 45kg/ha, spill evenly on the fields, make tillage of 20cm in depth before sowing.
- Furrow/hole application: Prepare SAP 30-45kg/ha, mix with fine dry soil according to the proportion of 1:5-1:10, evenly applied to planting ditch within 10-20 cm.
- Dipping root: Prepare SAP:water=1:200 or SAP:water:soil=1:300:60 Dip the plant into the hydrogel with mother soil, then replant it.
The widely used SAP is PAM (Polyacrylamide).
If you have any knowledge about SAP, please share !
Contact person: Susan
E-mail: susan@profirst.cn
Skype: profirst-susan
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