Synthesis and Study of a Novel Carboxymethyl Guar Gum/Polyacrylate Polymeric Structured Hydrogel for Agricultural Application

The objective was to synthesize an eco-friendly hydrogel that can sustain the crops for longer period even with lesser irrigation, supporting the cause of water conservation. To assist in identifying the utility of efficient materials in water delivery for agricultural applications, this study investigates the use of carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG), a modified form of a natural biopolymer of guar gum and sodium polyacrylate in the synthesis of hydrogels for efficient water delivery systems. A series of hydrogel samples were prepared by varying concentration of CMG, acrylic acid and cross-linker. The swelling and water retention behaviour of synthesized hydrogels were investigated with respect to time, temperature and pH. Results from swelling data showed it was highly dependent on acrylic acid concentration. The FTIR data showed that the copolymerization and the hydrogel formation reaction were successfully performed. In addition to that, the hydrogel showed response in relation to pH, temperature and more importantly with respect to the growth of plants.