›› 2012, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (4): 609-614.

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Water Absorbent Capacity of Super Absorbent Polymer with Different Granularities and Its Effect on Soil Physical Properties

 LI  Xing1,2,3, JIANG  Jin1, SONG  Chun-Wu1, CHEN  Ming4, ZHANG  Yun-Chao1,2, ZHANG  Heng1,2   

  1. 1.  Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
    2. Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    3.  Changde Water Conservancy and Hydropower Design Institute, Changde 415000, Hunan Province, China;
    4.  Ertix River Basin Management Bureau of Engineering Development and Construction, Urumqi 830011,China
  • Received:2011-07-14 Revised:2011-08-23 Online:2012-07-15 Published:2012-09-11

Abstract: In this paper, the effects of super absorbent polymer (SAP) on soil physical and chemical properties and the relationships among water absorbent capacity of SAP with three different granularities (2.0-3.2 mm, 1.0-2.0 mm and 0.5-1.0 mm) were studied in laboratory. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between water absorbent rate and SAP granularity. Soil moisture content could be significantly increased and soil evaporationcould be restricted after applying SAP. Soil pH value and electrical conductivity could be increased after applying SAP, the proportion of liquid phase in soil could be increased, but that of gas phase decreased, and soil permeability could also be decreased. In general, the improving effects of SAP with medium granularity on soil physical and chemical properties, such as soil water content, pH value, total porosity, permeability and electrical conductivity, were the highest, especially when the proportion of applied SAP was 0.1%.

Key words: super absorbent polymer (SAP), granularity, permeability, soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, sandy soil