HYDROGEL CHANGES THE AIR-WATER RATIO OF PLANT SUBSTRATES

Abstract

The use of appropriate techniques to optimize water availability in substrates is essential for the formation of quality seedlings. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the influence of substrate physical conditioning through the use of hydrogel. The treatments consisted of the control treatment (without the addition of hydrogel) and three doses of hydrogel (2, 4 and 6 g L-1 of substrate) added to components carbonized rice husk, average regular sand and Sphagnum peat isolated, and in a mixture composed of 50% of carbonized rice husk and 50% of peat (volumetric proportions). A completely randomized design was used, and the substrates were subjected to physical characterization at 0, 10, 50 and 100 hPa, using tension funnels, determining total porosity, aeration space, available water, remaining water and water holding capacity. The results showed that the use of this conditioner up to 4 g L^-1, generally, increased total porosity and decreased air space. There was an increase in available water and remaining water, especially for substrates with low water holding capacity (carbonized rice husk and sand). Thus, the use of hydrogel makes it possible to increase the period between irrigations, resulting in significant improvements in the production system.