"Sodium polyacrylate helps plants grow? "
You may get this idea after watching some "horticulture tips" or videos on the Internet. They may tell you "sodium polyacrylate is such a powerful water-absorbing material which can increase soil's water retention capacity."
How's the result of sodium polyacrylate for plants?
The result is that sodium polyacrylate WON'T help plants grow well at all.
And you will find sodium polyacrylate is melted or disappeared in soil. What the worst is that soil becomes sticky which is killing plants by isolating oxygen.
Why doesn't it work?
As the main liquid absorption material in a diaper, sodium polyacrylate has two special points:
- As urine cause baby red buttock, sodium polyacrylate locks water (urine) strongly. (That's why sodium polyacrylate no helps for plants.)
- Consider environmental protection factors, the sodium polyacrylate in the diaper would be melted & resolved quickly. (That's why sodium polyacrylate disappeared and soil become sticky.)
Potassium Polyacrylate
Is there a material that can absorb and release water for plants?
Yes. We can use another type of SAP that focuses on agriculture: potassium polyacrylate.
This kind of SAP is different from others:
- Releasing water. It can release water to plants when it's drought;
- Long effective period. It's available in the soil for a long time (months);
- Repeatedly working. After releasing water, it could absorb water for plants again.
| Types of SAP | Use | Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium Polyacrylate | to retaining water | As a water-retaining agent, it will absorb & release water in the soil for months. |
| Sodium Polyacrylate | to absorb urine | As a water-absorbing material, its water gel will never release water and decompose quickly. |