Application of potassium polyacrylate increases soil water status and improves growth of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) under drought stress condition

Water availability is the key factor limiting plant growth and development especially in dry and semiarid ecosystems. Super-absorbent polymers help soil keep water after raining or irrigation, and release water gradually during plant growth. This study examined the effect of potassium polyacrylate (K-PAM) on soil water content and physiological changes of bermudagrass in the greenhouse. The results showed that incorporation of K-PAM increased soil water content and survival rate of bermudagrass. Physiological parameter analysis showed that K-PAM treatment resulted in decreased cell membrane damage through modulation of EL and MDA contents in bermudagrass. Plants grown with K-PAM accumulated higher amount of proteins and proline under stress condition, and decreased ROS production. Expression level of several ROS related genes and stress inducible genes were largely up-regulated in plants by drought stress. However, plants grown in K-PAM mixed soil exhibited lower gene expression levels when compared to plants without K-PAM. The results indicated that K-PAM application effectively increased soil water content and improved bermudagrass growth under drought stress condition. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.