Scientists have developed a type of smart soil that can reduce the amount of water needed for irrigation by 40% compared to conventional soils. Additionally, this new soil can increase crop yields by up to 138%.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater supply is used for agriculture.
This means we are using a significant amount of water to irrigate crops. Areas that suffer from water scarcity often struggle with farming, leading to poor crop growth.
As a result, scientists have dedicated considerable time to researching the creation of smart soil suitable for adverse conditions. Recently, they discovered a new type of soil that requires less water while improving agricultural productivity.
The new soil helps reduce water needs while allowing plants to thrive (Image: Tawanboonnak/Adobe).
This “smart” soil is not a result of robots or AI but rather thanks to a special hydrogel formula mixed into the soil. This allows the soil to absorb more moisture from the air at night.
The moisture is retained in the soil overnight and is absorbed by the roots the next day, carrying with it a quantity of calcium chloride, which is also added to the hydrogel to provide additional nutrients. This new soil enables plants to grow with increased efficiency of up to 138% while reducing water requirements by 40%.
The research team plans to conduct longer-term experiments to assess the long-term effectiveness of the smart soil and to test the incorporation of different fertilizers into the soil.
Solutions for soils that require less water are crucial as they support sustainable crop development in the face of the current climate change crisis.
