Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. V
Written by Murat TEKİNER, Murat YILDIRIM, Cafer TÜRKMEN, Ayhan ORAL, Bahri İZCİ
The experiment was carried out at the research center of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Turkey in summer of 2010 and 2011 to determine the effects of hydrogel (organic polymer) on the grain yield and plant development parameters. Maize DKC 5783, a commonly used variety by farmers in Turkey, was used as an indicator plant and the seeds were sowed to different lysimeters having a volume of 1 m3. The chemical properties of hydrogel and its water holding capacity were determined under laboratory conditions. According to the treatments, certain amounts of hydrogel were mixed to the first 20 cm of the soil from the surface level. Irrigation water was applied in a controlled manner by a scaled container to the root area of maize. Plant development parameters were observed in each development stage. As a result of this study, it was seen that the amount of hydrogel mixed to the soil in different amounts had a significant effect on the plant development parameters, grain yield and also irrigation water use efficiency.
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