USP researchers, Professor Agnieszka Joanna Pawlicka Maule and her advisee Rodrigo César Sabadini, developed a non-toxic hydrogel made from biodegradable natural polymers capable of absorbing water.
The hydrogel works like a sponge that absorbs water and gradually moistens the soil.
The experiment carried out by the researchers shows that the product has been highly efficient. Seeds with hydrogel germinated and grew well; and seeds with hydrogel and fertilizers not only germinated but grew even better.
The only disadvantage of the hydrogel developed by the researchers is its high price, due to the high cost of raw materials. Besides being natural and biodegradable, this product also serves as a food source for bacteria present in the soil.
Read the full article at the link: USP notícias
Reviewed by Silvia Cristina VieiraPublished by Leonardo Felipe Franchi
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