Evaluation of two types of superabsorbent polymer on soil water and some soil microbial properties

In this study, two types of superabsorbent polymers, Luquasorb (Luqua) and Stockosorb (Stock), at 180 kg ha(-1) were applied by scattering and mass treatments in an experimental farm to assess their influences on spring wheat growth (Dez variety) and on the physical characteristics and microbial plenty of soil. The following treatments were used in this study: the control (C, without SAPs), Luqua with mass application (Luqua-M), Stock with mass application (Stock-M), Luqua with scattered application (Luqua-S), and Stock with scattered application (Stock-S). Approximately 0.3 m(3) of irrigation water was supplied for every subplot. The results indicated that adding superabsorbent polymers could improve the soil water-holding capacity and enable the soil to retain more water. Besides, superabsorbent polymers significantly enhanced the soil water content in the three growth stages compared with the control. The use of superabsorbent polymers did not have obvious opposite influences on the soil microbial colony and might even increase soil microbial movement.