Fabrication of carboxymethyl tamarind kernel gum-based hydrogel and its applicability in different types of soils for...

An avant-garde agricultural hydrogel - Carboxymethyl tamarind kernel gum-poly sodium acrylate-polyacrylamide hydrogel was designed by free-radical polymerization of biopolymer: carboxy-methyl tamarind kernel gum and monomers: sodium acrylate, acrylamide, using N,N' methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker and potassium persulphate as initiator, to explore its application as a soil conditioner. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric techniques. Swelling was investigated at different pH and in saline solutions. The fabricated hydrogel absorbed 189 ml/g of distilled water. Minimal 0.1 % hydrogel-amended different soils unveiled an upswing in maximum water holding capacity: Sandy soil (43%), Clay soil (31 %), Silty soil (29 %) & Loamy soil (9 %).; decrease in porosity: Sandy (29 %) > Loamy (15.2 %) > Silty (6 %) > Clay (5.9 %), increase in available water content: Clay soil (17.52 %), Silty (13.45 %), Loamy soil (9.416 %), Sandy soil (10.375 %); increase in bulk density: Clay (1.7 %), Silty (5.3 %), Loamy (10 %) and Sandy (13%) as compared to control sample. These sequels were corroborated by water retention capacity in chickpea plants. The designed hydrogel, as a soil conditioner, was commendable in all types of soils but is worth applying in sandy and loamy soils. This hydrogel richly assists as a soil conditioner and boosts plant performance in a green eco-friendly way.