ENHANCING IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF POTASSIUM-BASED HYDROGEL IN LDPE MULCH FILM FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Abstract
Irrigation plays an important role on our daily basis. All consumable green plants are being irrigated under manual supervision. A proper level of water and sunlight (humid condition) is the basic necessity for proper growth and health of the crops. Mulching is the process being followed in places with extreme climate conditions where scarcity of water is high. On the other hand, on recent growth the hydrogels are being used on large scale for agriculture purpose for their tendency to absorb and preserve water.
Thus, using both the concepts, the hydrogels are being incorporated in the mulching film to increase their usage in the field of plasticulture. Mulching film is prepared using Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by extrusion process. Potassium based hydrogels are used to improve the production and to maintain the pH of the soil. Thus, mulching film incorporated with potassium-based hydrogels can improvise the production of crops and minimize the usage of surplus water maintaining the nutrition of the soil.
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