Brief introduction
This article is about the lifetime of potassium in soil and how to increase it.
Advantages of potassium polyacrylate
As a water-retaining agent, potassium polyacrylate has a strong water-retaining ability.
- To absorb water hundred times its weight and become gel form;
- Water gel can release water to plants when it's drought.
As we know, water is so important for plants. Potassium polyacrylate is just a "mini-reservoir" to keep releasing water to plants so that:
- Increase yield of crop & fruiter;
- Improve seed germination & emergence, give plants an early, healthy start;
- Reduce irrigation frequency;
- Release the fertilizer efficiency slowly;
- loosen the soil and adjust salinization & PH.
How long would potassium polyacrylate work in soil
Factor One - Soil
- Saltiness. Saltiness is a very factor for the life & performance of potassium polyacrylate;
- Soil type. It's better to use potassium polyacrylate in sand soil than clay/silt loam.
Factor Two - Temperature
- Extreme weather will reduce the lifetime of potassium polyacrylate. Deep culture is a good way to protect it.
Factory Three - Product quality
- Fake type (sodium polyacrylate): less than one week
*Because sodium polyacrylate is much cheaper than potassium polyacrylate, sodium polyacrylate is sold by profiteer as potassium polyacrylate.
- Inferior type: 2-4 weeks in soil
- Common type: 1-3 months
*As common potassium polyacrylate's lifetime is a couple of months, it's important to seize the important period of plants (such as nursery stage, anthesis, fruiting period, etc.)
- Improved type (like Pack Rain): 5-8 years
*Pack rain is a type of improved water-retaining agent. It can be workable in the soil for as long as 5-8 years.