TITLE:
Reduction in Water Stress for Tree Saplings Using Hydrogels in Soil
AUTHORS:
Maryam Kargar, Rahul Suresh, Matthew Legrand, Pierre Jutras, O. Grant Clark, Shiv O. Prasher
KEYWORDS:
Tree Growth, Hydrogel, Photosynthesis, Super Absorbent Polymer, Water Stress
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
5,
2017
ABSTRACT: The effect of soil amendment with hydrogel on reducing water stress was tested for Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum) saplings. The trees were planted in soils with one of two concentrations of hydrogel (0.5% or 1% dry weight) as compared to the control soil (0% of hydrogel) and watered either daily, weekly, or bi-weekly. Growth was monitored by measuring height and stem diameter. Stress was monitored by measuring SPAD readings and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), as proxy measures of chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, respectively. Water stress decreased NDVI (p