Growth characteristics of Artemisia sieberi influenced by super absorbent polymers in texturally different soils under water stress condition

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe effects of super absorbent polymers (SAPs) on growth characteristics and seedlings survival of Artemisia sieberi (under two soil textures, three irrigation levels and seven hydrogel compositions with three replications) were investigated. The studied traits were shoot height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, ratio of root/shoot, root length, root perimeter, root area and root volume. SAPs successfully enhanced growth capability of A. sieberi in two soil textures compared to the controls. Ideally, 5 g kg‒1 Aquasorb™ (SNF Company, France) with 100% irrigation and 10 g kg‒1 Stockosorb® (Evonik Corporation, Germany) with 75% irrigation in a sandy loam texture and 10 g kg‒1 Boloorab A™ (Boloorab Company, Iran) with 75% irrigation in a loamy texture significantly affected all traits, resulting in 100% survival for A. sieberi seedlings. Aquasorb™ and Stockosorb® showed the best results in the sandy loam texture and preferable outputs were obtained by Boloorab A™ application in the loamy texture. In other words, because of the basic differentiation among soils in terms of mineralogy, temperature and moisture content, different SAPs should be applied. Production of dense root network and root aggregation stimulated by SAPs increased root contact with moisture. Therefore, improving the growth and survival of the plants is accessible using SAPs under water stress condition.