Characterization of water retention and release capacity of innovative nano clay polymer composite superabsorbent

Use of innovative nano clay polymer composite (NCPC) superabsorbent was explored particularly to ameliorate moisture stress condition under rainfed ecosystem. NCPC were synthesized by polymerization reaction with 10% acrylic acid, acrylamide, 0.9% ammonium per sulphate as initiator, 0.12% N, N′- methylene bis acrylamide loaded with 10% kaolinite clay at 650C reaction temperature in presence of inert nitrogen gas. The water sorption was found maximum (131.25 g H2O/g NCPC) when kaolinite clay was modified by hot water FYM extract irrespective of amount of loaded phosphorus in NCPC (treatment 15 & 16) as compared to pure clay 90.04 g H2O/g NCPC without any modification (T14). The average water desorption pattern was also found to be conducive when clay was modified by hot water FYM extract. The rate kinetics for water sorption and desorption was studied under different innovative modified NCPC. The present study revealed that when NCPC added in alluvial soil it helps to maintain soil moisture regime for additional 8-13 days more (depending on composition) as compared to no application of NCPC in soil. Superabsorbent polymeric materials in combination with modified clay play a significant role in improving and retaining soil moisture regime and further reducing the rate of desorption of water act as an effective material for higher water use for agricultural applications.