aquasorb water retainers for soils and substratesaquasorb™ water retainers for soils and...

AQUASORB™

Water retainers for Soils and Substrates

AQUASORB™ Water Retainers for Soils and Substrates

1AQUASORB™ 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…

COMPOSITIONAQUASORB 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.

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.

mn

CH2 CH CH2 CH

C=O C=O

NH O-K+

m

2

n

In contact with water, the polymer network expands thanks to an

osmosis process and stores the liquid into its structure.


2 AQUASORB™ Water retainers for Soils and Substrates

Methods of incorporation Three main methods of incorporation are proposed according to the application considered.

ForestationThe AQUASORB pre-hydrated is implemented directly in the fi eld, by

hand or with specifi c tools (forestation; landscaping).

Potting mixesAQUASORB is incorporated into a substrate (dry or hydrated), the

“mixed” being used for nurseries or potting mix.

1 2 3 4

Tap water

Aquasorb

hydrated



Large scale farmingThe 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 effi ciency 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).



Horticulture Mixed into a substrate, AQUASORB permits an effi cient 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 defi ciencies. It is an ideal

solution of substrates for containers, fruits and vegetable productions

and houseplants.

With AQUASORB, fi eld 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 suffi cient

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 benefi cial to the global plants

health.

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.

Hydrogel on corn rooting system



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.

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 fi nancial 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; sunfl ower; cotton

etc…) and has to be adapted according to the local situations.

AQUASORB application with corn seed drill.

Hydroseeding application (Euro-Tec, France)



Technical results from some users of SAPImpact of SAP use on Eucalyptus urophylla survival rate during the implementation phase (Brazil)

Control

0g

100

80

60

40

20

0Dry

2g

Dry

4g

Hydrated

2g

Hydrated

4g

Eucalyptus Survival Rate (%)

75.7 85.7 85.7 90.4 97.3

Impact of SAP use on corn yield (China Agricultural University)

Impact of AQUASORB on corn yield on large scale plots (product applied with

a microgranulator during the crop sowing)

Control

0 kg/ha

10

8

6

4

2

07.5 11.3 15.0

Dose kg/ha

Corn Yield (t/ha)

6.8 7.6 8.1 8.8

Control

0

6

5

4

3

2

1

010 20

Dose kg/ha

Corn Yield (t/ha)

2.94 4.17 4.42

Control

10 kg/ha

15 kg/ha



Silage corn- dry biomass (t/ha), Mexico

Impact of AQUASORB on tomato production (Pakistan)

Control

0

30

25

20

15

10

5

012.5 25

Dose kg/ha

Corn Dry Matter (t/ha)

19.5 26.5 27.8

Control

0

600

500

400

300

200

100

00.25 0.75 1.25

Dose g

Tomato Weight (g)

88 180 262 498

Ind. nb leaves/plant nb branches/plant fresh weight/plant

Blank 84.67 10.0 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



Influence of electrolytes on the swelling capacity

AQUASORB physico-chemical properties

Granular sizeAQUASORB 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 capacityThe 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.

Delayed Wilting PointAQUASORB 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.

0

100

200

300

400

0 0,1 0,5salt concentration (g/L)

Solution of NaCl

Solution of CaCl

abso

rpti

on

(g/

g)

2

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

So

il H

um

idit

y (

%)

Drying time in days

Drying speed in sandy soil

Operating Conditions

Drying temperature: 22°C

50% Relative Humidity

Initial dry substrate weight: 2kg

1L of water was initially added into substrates

Standardized Sand + AQUASORB @3 kg/m3

Standardized Sand



SNF SASZAC de Milieux

42163 Andrézieux Cedex - FRANCEPhone: + 33 (0)4 77 36 86 00

Fax: + 33 (0)4 77 36 86 96email: [email protected]

web: www.snf.fr

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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

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

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