A group of scientists have developed a new type of “smart” soil that uses 40 percent less water than traditional options and can help crops grow up to 138 percent larger. This is achieved by mixing in a special hydrogel that absorbs water vapor from the air at night and releases it to the plant’s roots during the day, along with calcium chloride, a vital nutrient.
The researchers estimate that around 70 percent of the world’s freshwater supply is used in agriculture, making efficient use of water crucial. The new soil has the potential to help areas with limited water resources keep their crops growing properly.
The “smart” soil does not involve robotics or AI, but rather the specially formulated hydrogel that allows it to absorb and release water vapor. This has been shown to improve crop growth efficiency by 138 percent while reducing direct watering needs by 40 percent.
The researchers have published their findings and testing process in ACS Materials Letters. They plan to conduct longer experiments to test the long-term efficiency of the smart soil and explore incorporating different fertilizers into the mixture.
Source: https://bgr.com/science/scientists-created-smart-soil-that-grows-138-bigger-crops-with-less-water/