Vol 7 No.1

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7th Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings

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Improving Soil with Biopolymer Hydrogel: Better Soil Quality and Water Retention
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Qais al Amri; Maathir Al-Shaqsi; Afrah Al-Shukaili
This study focuses on the development and evaluation of biodegradable polymer hydrogels to enhance soil quality, water retention, and irrigation efficiency in arid regions such as Oman. Three novel hydrogels were formulated using sodium alginate derived from brown seaweed: one with pure alginate, the second enriched with an extract from a local aromatic plant, and the third incorpo biochar rating powder. These were compared against a Russian hydrogel and a Saudi commercial hydrogel. Laboratory analyses included water absorption, thermal stability (TGA), functional group characterization (FTIR), soil pH and EC measurements, and microbial compatibility. Soil moisture retention was evaluated using pressure plate extractions at six pressure levels (0.5 to 15 bars), both with and without soil, followed by RETC modeling. A pot experiment simulated realistic conditions, with sealed pots irrigated from below to assess capillary rise and CO₂ emissions using the SKY8000-M4-X gas analyzer.