Effects of trehalose and polyacrylate-based hydrogels on tomato growth under drought

Hydrophilic amendments can enhance soil moisture content, which, in turn, can improve crop health under drought conditions. Understanding how different hydrogels interact with specific crops is necessary for optimal application. The soil conditioning abilities of a trehalose hydrogel and polyacrylate-based hydrogel were evaluated for tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) subjected to drought. Tomato plants were transplanted into individual pots with soil that contained trehalose hydrogel (0.4 wt%), polyacrylate-based hydrogel (0.4 wt%), or no hydrogel and subjected to a well-watered treatment or to pronounced soil drought, with or without rewatering. The health of tomato plants was monitored by measuring leaf total chlorophyll (a + b) concentration, leaf water potential (psi(leaf)), stomatal conductance (g(s)) and relative growth rate (RGR). The polyacrylate-based hydrogel, but not the trehalose hydrogel, improved tomato plant function under drought conditions, as indicated by improved g(s) and RGR relative to the well-watered control. However, when subjected to a second drought, neither hydrogel was effective, and neither prolonged survival. The more hydrophilic polyacrylate-based hydrogel demonstrated promise in improving the growth of tomato plants under drought when included as a soil amendment at 0.4 wt%. This research is important for understanding the effects of these hydrogels as soil conditioners in drought prone systems. Hydrophilic soil amendments are important to enhance soil moisture content during drought conditions. In this paper a trehalose hydrogel and a polyacrylate-based hydrogel were evaluated for tomato plants subjected to drought. It was shown that the polyacrylate-based hydrogel, but not the trehalose hydrogel, improved tomato plant function under drought conditions as indicated by improved stomatal conductance and relative growth rate compared to the well-watered control. This research is important to evaluate hydrogels that might prevent agricultural water wastage and improve the health of crops subjected to drought.

Automated summary

This study found that the polyacrylate-based hydrogel improved the function of tomato plants under drought conditions, while the trehalose hydrogel was ineffective. This research is important for evaluating hydrogels that can prevent water wastage in agriculture and improve crop health under drought conditions.