The efficiency of applying soil hydrogel to the light-chestnut soils of the Volga and Don inter stream area to stimulate seed sprouting for agricultural crops

Abstract

The conducted research reveals that the introduction of hydrogel into the topsoil using conventional grain seeders facilitates the retention, accumulation, absorption, and differentiated distribution of soil moisture, and stimulates and accelerates the seed sprouting for agricultural crops. The use of a scientifically calculated hydrogel dosage (80 kg/ha) during the seeding period led to a 2.08-3.77 mm increase in the productive moisture content in the topsoil as compared to the plots without hydrogel. The plants in the field treated with polymer agents used 3.54-7.35 mm less soil moisture to sprout, which led to a 44.25-61.40% economy of water as compared to the untreated reference plots. The hydrogel plantings began sprouting earlier, between the 2nd and the 4th days, and their field survival was 7.2-28.6% higher, which influenced the further vegetation of the plants.