Author(s)

Gehan H. Abd El-Aziz¹, Ahmed S. Ibrahim², Ashraf H. Fahmy³

¹Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
²Cairo University-Plant Biotechnology Research Laboratories (CU-PBRL) Scientific Center of Excellence in Plant Biotechnolo-gy, Plant Physiology Division, Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
³Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

The use of natural hydrogels in agriculture provides solutions to many problems without threatening the environment. This study aims to evaluate the potential impact of environmentally friendly hydrogels (pectin, starch and pectin + starch) in reducing the negative effects of drought stress on tomato yield and quality. Two different peels (orange peel and banana peel) are used to prepare environmentally friendly hydrogels. The water retention efficiency of hydrogels has been studied. Greenhouse experiment for tomato under drought stress was conducted during 2019. These hydrogels were used under several level of irrigation (100%, 75%, and 50% FC), soil without hydrogel was used as a control. The results showed that the eco-friendly hydrogels (starch, pectin, and pectin + starch) had capacity retention of water for a long time. The obtained data from the greenhouse experiment showed that the eco-friendly hydrogel showed a positive effect on retention of water and increase the soil moisture content compared to control. The highest increase was observed at pectin + starch treatment. This increase reached to 2.8-, 2.4- and 2.0-fold for 100%, 75% and 50% FC compared to the control. Eco- friendly hydrogel application under different drought conditions led to improve yield and quality of tomato fruits. Moreover, conversion of agricultural wastes to hydrogels and the use of these eco-friendly materials instead of synthetic hydrogels are necessary to utilize the limited natural resources and decrease the harmful impact of agricultural wastes on the environment and pave the way for the transition to a sustainable agriculture system.

Eco-Friendly Hydrogel, Pectin, Starch, Tomato, Soil, Drought

El-Aziz, G. , Ibrahim, A. and Fahmy, A. (2022) Using Environmentally Friendly Hydrogels to Alleviate the Negative Impact of Drought on Plant. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 12, 111-133. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2022.121009.