Super absorbent polymer (SAP)
What is a super absorbent polymer indeed?
In agriculture, the superabsorbent polymer is also called water retaining polymer or soil condition agent.
It is a powerful water-absorbent material. The water absorption is hundreds of times of its weight.
1. Appearance
Before absorbing: White (or brownness) powder/granule.
After absorbing: Transparent gel.
2.Chemical component
The main chemical component of SAP is sodium polyacrylate or potassium polyacrylate.
- Sodium polyacrylate is produced by sodium hydroxide and acrylic acid;
- Potassium polyacrylate is produced by potassium hydroxide and acrylic acid.
3.Function
SAP can increase the water holding capacity of soil which is the meaning:
- The yield of crops/fruit trees will be increased;
- The water cost will be reduced;
- The fertilizer efficiency will be increased by reducing the loss to the underground.
>> Water Holding Capacity Test
Is super absorbent polymer good for the soil?
1.Potassium polyacrylate SAP
Potassium polyacrylate is totally good for soil:
- Before decomposed in the soil, it can keep increasing the water holding capacity of soil;
- After decomposed in the soil, potassium polyacrylate would break into potassium, water, carbon dioxide, etc.
2.Sodium polyacrylate SAP
In agriculture, sodium polyacrylate obviously is a bad choice.
After decomposed in the soil, sodium polyacrylate would be break into the water, carbon dioxide, and sodium which would cause soil alkalization.
Tips: As sodium polyacrylate is much cheap than potassium polyacrylate, profiteers would sell sodium polyacrylate instead of potassium polyacrylate.