Evaluating the Effects of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) on Growth of Eggplant

Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) have been used as water retaining materials in agricultural fields. They can release stored water slowly as required by the plants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a constant weight of SAPs ( 3g/l.5kg of growth media) which were prepared by radiation-induced crosslinking of different percentage (30 %, 40 %, 50 %) of acrylic acid onto coir dust using different dose (10-30kGy) of gamma radiation. Fifteen samples and sixteen pots were arranged on growth of eggplant in prepared soil media. In experiment involved, the same soil (1.5kg) media mixture was used 3g of super absorbent. For the first two weeks the plants were given an enough amount of water, then watering interval was reduced to 3days a time in each pots. The analysis of data indicated that the effect of SAP on plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of fruits per plant, and yield had significance. The results indicated that the sample with acrylic acid 50 % and 20kGy produced a high yield.