1. Hydrogel is a super absorbent product made of cross-linked polymers that can absorb and store large quantities of water and nutrients in soil or other substrates. It absorbs water through osmosis and releases it proportionally to supply plants as needed, reducing water loss through leaching or evaporation.
2. Application of hydrogel has been shown to increase crop yields in various studies. For sugar cane, plots treated with hydrogel saw a 25% increase in sugar yield compared to untreated plots. For tomatoes, hydrogel increased average weight by 106% and decreased time to harvest. It also reduced mortality and increased growth rates of young chinaberry trees.
3. Hydrogel comes in different particle sizes
1. 1
Water Retainer for Soils and
Substrates
Save irrigation and fertilizer cost with Water Polymer Crystals
2. 2
Water Retainer for Soils and Substrates
Human activity requires more resources today, including the vital need for water. Modern
agriculture requires nearly two-thirds of the world groundwater. For this reason, the people
began to devise ways to conserve water used for agriculture.
Water is consumed by plants from the soil through the roots. Water is usually present in the
soil through evaporation and condensation processes that produce rain.
Water is used by plants as follows:
to form a hydrocarbon through photosynthesis together with CO2.
as the transportation medium for food etc..
to help absorption of certain elements from the soil.
to help regulate the temperature of the plantation area.
Water is an absolute necessity for plants for photosynthesis. Water is continually absorbed by
plants from the soil and is lost through transpiration. Absorption is related to transpiration and
varies depending on weather conditions. Water flows into the plant through the osmotic
gradient formed between the soil and air.
TECHNICAL INTRODUCTION
HYDROGEL is a super absorbent product of anionic polyacrylamide polymers which is
cross-linked copolymers of acrylamide and potassium acrylate.
3. 3
HYDROGEL is water/fluid retainer that can be used in synergy with soil, fertilizer or other
media as well to absorb and store water and nutrients in large quantities. Unlike other
products, HYDROGEL does not dissolve in water, but it just absorbs and releases water and
nutrients proportionally when needed by plants; thus, plants always have a supply of water
and nutrients at any time since HYDROGEL functions to absorb and release water
(absorption – release cycles).
HYDROGEL optimizes plant growth by reducing the loss of water and nutrients through
leaching and evaporation. Water and nutrients are stored around the roots so as to optimize
absorption by plants.
ADVANTAGES
Ensuring the availability of water throughout the year.
Reducing water and nutrient loss caused by leaching, evaporation, and also reducing
the frequency of watering and water consumption.
Improving the physical properties of compact soils by forming good ventilation.
Increasing plant growth because water and nutrients are always available around the
plant for the optimal absorption by their roots.
Reducing the mortality rate.
Reducing environmental pollution from erosion and pollution of ground water.
HYDROGEL is polymer products that can be unraveled through decomposition by
microbes so that this product is very safe to use. This polymer is sensitive to direct sunlight
where it will break the polymer chains into several olygomers.
HYDROGEL will decompose naturally in the soil into CO2, H2O and nitrogen components.
It is important to note that HYDROGEL cannot substitute water but optimizes its use through
a more efficient way.
4. 4
APPLICATIONS
HYDROGEL can be applied in its dry form or after pre-hydrated (soaked in water). Soaking
HYDROGEL, the dry polymer will absorb water as much as 200 times (more or less) its weight
for about 1 hour ago, then it can be applied as usual. For dry application, the product is
used directly without soaking first. Once applied, it is then drenched with water so that the
polymer absorb water. We can mix it with fertilizers and the planting medium (compost, peat
or other media).
Dry application
HYDROGEL is scattered evenly in the prepared soil for planting with a depth of 10 to 30 cm.
This method ensures the long-term benefits. After the polymer absorbs water, soil structure will
improve and the ability of soil to hold water (water retention capacity) will increase.
Pre-hydrated Application
HYDROGEL must first be soaked in water, as much as 100-200 times the weight of the
polymer . Let it stand for 1 hour until saturated and then spread it into the prepared soil and
cover it with soil so that polymer is not damaged by direct contact with ultraviolet light.
Recommended dosage is 5 - 20 kg/ha.
APPLICATION TYPES
Nursery
Plantation/agriculture
Mixed with fertilizer
Etc.
6. 6
MIXED WITH FERTILIZER
FLORAL DECORATION
RESEARCH OUTCOME (Historical data)
Sugar canes:
At a sugar cane plantation, HYDROGEL increased the growth rate during the dry season
and also increased the sugar yield significantly. The sugar yield in plots that were treated with
HYDROGEL with a dosage of 15 kg/ha increased by 25% compared to that in plots that
were not treated with HYDROGEL.
7. 7
Tomatoes:
HYDROGEL increased tomato plant growth because of better aeration of the soil. Then,
the harvest time was shortened so that the income of tomato growers can significantly
increased
Tomato Harvest Result
(Control 100)
Average Tomato Weight
(Grams)
Harvest Time
(Days)
Control HYDROGEL
1kg/m3
Control HYDROGEL
1kg/ m3
Control HYDROGEL
1kg/ m3
100 206 35.6 40.8 50 43
Chinaberry trees:
HYDROGEL reduced the mortality of the young chinaberry trees as well as increased its
growth rate. From the experiment, the difference in trunk diameters at 2 months after
planting is significant. At 2 months, the measurement result of the average trunk diameter is
19mm old for the trees treated 5 gr of HYDROGEL/tree while the average diameter is 13mm
for the control subject without HYDROGEL.
Pictures taken when the chinaberry tree subjects were 2 months old.
HYDROGEL, 5 gr/tree
Control subject, without
HYDROGEL
8. 8
Experimental chinaberry tree subject.
The tree with the application of HYDROGEL at 5 gr/tree can be seen taller than
the control subject without HYDROGEL.
HYDROGEL, 5 gr/tree
Control subject, without
HYDROGEL
PRODUCT TYPES
products can be categorized into three types based on their particle sizes as follows
1. SIZE S (≤ 0.3 mm)
2. SIZE M (≤ 1 mm)
3. SIZE L (≤ 3 mm)
