Localized subsurface placement of a polyacrylamide superabsorbent polymer improves soil moisture distribution and reduces irrigation requirement in wheat grown in Eastern Kazakhstan

Year 2026, Volume: 15 Issue: 2 , 149 - 157 , 01.04.2026

Abdugani Azimov Gani Iztleuov Raikhan Omirova Aidar Bolysbek Dinara Sharipova Zhainagul Yertayeva , Nazmi Mat Nawi

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1861849

https://izlik.org/JA38EU22FP

Abstract

Water scarcity and increased drought frequency threaten irrigated cereal production across arid and semi-arid regions. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can improve soil water retention and reduce non-productive losses, but field-scale effectiveness depends strongly on placement strategy and soil conditions [1–5]. This study evaluated a commercially available cross-linked polyacrylamide SAP applied locally using a slitter-based implement at two rates (30 and 60 kg ha⁻¹) and two placement depths (20 and 40 cm) under irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cultivar ‘Steklovidnaya-24’) in Eastern Kazakhstan (April–June 2025). A randomized complete block design with three replications was used (6 × 4 m plots). Soil moisture was measured by depth (0–5, 0–20, 20–40 cm) using the thermostat–weight (oven-drying) method; soil reaction (pH) was measured in a salt extract prepared by the TSINAO method using a calibrated pH meter; and grain yield was assessed by whole-plot harvest and converted to a hectare basis. Localized SAP placement redistributed water downward, with a 3.6–3.8 percentage-point reduction in the 0–20 cm layer and a 3.2–3.6 percentage-point increase in the 20–40 cm layer, resulting in an 8–11% increase in root-zone moisture reserves. The number of irrigations decreased from two to one, reducing seasonal irrigation from 1,800 to 900 m³ ha⁻¹, while crop growth indicators visibly improved relative to the control. Overall, 30 kg ha⁻¹ placed at 20 cm provided the most favorable balance between agronomic benefit and input intensity, consistent with broader evidence that targeted subsurface SAP placement can enhance irrigation water productivity.

Keywords

Superabsorbent polymer , polyacrylamide , localized placement , slitting , soil moisture , irrigation water productivity , wheat , Eastern Kazakhstan

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Project Number

BR24993129

Thanks

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan under Grant No. BR24993129, entitled “Development of a biodegradable thermosensitive hydrogel capable of absorbing, retaining, and regulating the release of moisture.” The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and constructive suggestions, which significantly contributed to the improvement of the manuscript

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