Effect of single salt solution on water absorption by gel‐forming soil conditioners

Abstract

Abstract The effect of a single salt solution was investigated on the water absorption capacity of three commercially available gel‐forming soil conditioners in Saudi Arabia. The mean water absorption ranged from 55.5 to 150 mL g‐1 for NaCl, from 13.5 to 150 mL g‐1 for MgSO4, and from 8.5 to 150 mL g‐1 for CaCl2 for A‐4 soil conditioner. The increase in water salinity from 0.05 to 1 dS m‐1 decreased water absorption capacity by 29, 37, and 42% when NaCl, MgSO4, and CaCl2 salt solutions were used, respectively. For P‐4 conditioner the mean water absorption varied between 33.5 and 150 mL g‐1 for NaCl, 28 and 150 mL g‐1 for MgSO4, and 21 and 150 mL g‐1 for CaCl2 salt solutions. Salinity increases from 0.05 to 1 dS m‐1 reduced water absorption capacity of P‐4 gel by 27, 45, and 43% in NaCl, MgSO4, and CaCl2 salt solutions, respectively. Similarly, the mean water absorption for SHJ conditioner ranged from 45 to 150 mL g‐1 for NaCl, from 24 to 150 mL g‐1 for MgSO4, and from 13.5 to 150 mL g‐1 for CaCl2 salt sol...