Influence of sodium polyacrylate on the water-holding capacity of three different soils and effects on growth of wheat

The effectiveness of sodium polyacrylate to increase soil water retention and to enhance growth of wheat under water deficit was evaluated. Water-holding capacity of the soils was considerably increased only when the soil was amended with the polymer at a rate ≥3 g L^-1. The effect on plant-available water was greater at soil matric potentials up to -1000 hPa. The biomass and grain yield of plants without water deficit were increased by the polymer amendment, but decreased under severe water deficit stress. The polymer had no significant affect on plant N, grain N or grain Na content.