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Effect of Starch Based Super-Absorbent Polymer (SAP) on Growth and Yield of Sugarcane (Saccharum Hybrid Spp.) Under Different Irrigation Intervals in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka

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Super absorbent polymer (SAP) can significantly improve soil moisture retention, which is an important factor in most agricultural production systems. Limited research exists on its specific application in sugarcane cultivation, particularly under the environmental conditions of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of starch-based SAPs, on sugarcane growth, yield, and nitrogen leaching under different irrigation intervals in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka. This study was conducted using a split-plot design with three replicates, where irrigation interval served as the main plot factor, and the levels of SAP application were treated as the subplot factor. Irrigation intervals of 10, 15, 20, and 25 d were evaluated with and without the application of SAP. The study was conducted over one crop cycle from June 2020 to June 2021 at the research farm of the Sugarcane Research Institute, Sri Lanka. The results of this study revealed that the application of SAP enhanced the sugarcane yield only under a 10-day irrigation interval. None of the other treatment combinations was significant at a probability level of 0.05. Hence, the application of SAP cannot be used as a management tool for increasing irrigation intervals aiming at reducing the irrigation water demand. While the SAP application can enhance sugarcane fresh yield in specific instances, it did not provide clear evidence of improvement in sugarcane quality under the environmental conditions in Udawalawe. However, the current study did not evident a decrease in fertilizer leaching rates in the deep-draining water or changes in soil pH due to the application of SAP. This study may not fully capture the potential benefits of the SAP application under diverse weather conditions, as the experimental location did not receive prolonged drought during the study period, which could mask the effectiveness of both SAP and irrigation treatments.
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Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition
December 2024, Vol. 7(2): 58-70
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/java.v7i2.139
58
Effect of Starch Based Super-Absorbent Polymer (SAP) on Growth and Yield
of Sugarcane (Saccharum Hybrid Spp.) Under Different Irrigation Intervals in
Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
L.M.J.R. Wijayawardhana*, A.L.C. De Silva, G.A.A. Chathuranga, H.A.S.
Weerasinghe
Sugarcane Research Institute, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
_________________________________________________________________
Submitted: July 10, 2024; Revised: December 05, 2024; Accepted: December 16, 2024
*Correspondence: lmjrw@yahoo.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8876-3499
ABSTRACT
Super absorbent polymer (SAP) can significantly improve soil moisture retention, which is an
important factor in most agricultural production systems. Limited research exists on its specific
application in sugarcane cultivation, particularly under the environmental conditions of the Dry
Zone of Sri Lanka. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of starch-based
SAPs, on sugarcane growth, yield, and nitrogen leaching under different irrigation intervals in
Udawalawe, Sri Lanka. This study was conducted using a split-plot design with three replicates,
where irrigation interval served as the main plot factor, and the levels of SAP application were treated
as the subplot factor. Irrigation intervals of 10, 15, 20, and 25 d were evaluated with and without
the application of SAP. The study was conducted over one crop cycle from June 2020 to June 2021
at the research farm of the Sugarcane Research Institute, Sri Lanka. The results of this study revealed
that the application of SAP enhanced the sugarcane yield only under a 10-day irrigation interval.
None of the other treatment combinations was significant at a probability level of 0.05. Hence, the
application of SAP cannot be used as a management tool for increasing irrigation intervals aiming
at reducing the irrigation water demand. While the SAP application can enhance sugarcane fresh
yield in specific instances, it did not provide clear evidence of improvement in sugarcane quality
under the environmental conditions in Udawalawe. However, the current study did not evident a
decrease in fertilizer leaching rates in the deep-draining water or changes in soil pH due to the
application of SAP. This study may not fully capture the potential benefits of the SAP application
under diverse weather conditions, as the experimental location did not receive prolonged drought
during the study period, which could mask the effectiveness of both SAP and irrigation treatments.
Keywords: Irrigation, Leaching, Sugarcane, Super-absorbent polymers
___________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
In the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, sugarcane frequently faces extended dry spells from
June to October, characterized by an average monthly rainfall of less than 50 mm
during this dry period (De Silva et al., 2017). Soil moisture deficiency during the
initial stages of sugarcane cultivation leads to a substantial reduction in plant
density, subsequently suppressing stem elongation and resulting in a significant
decline in final yield (De Silva, 2007). In Yala season-commenced crops, typically
planted during March and April, this phenomenon is more pronounced
(Wijayawardhana et al., 2014). Previous studies have shown that the sugarcane
Wijayawardhana et al.
59
yield and sugar yield of rain-fed crops were reduced by 37% and 51% respectively
due to drought (De Silva and De Costa, 2004). However, it should be noted that
practising supplementary irrigation for rain-fed sugarcane can prevent the above
yield reduction to a certain extent (De Silva and De Costa, 2004;
Wijayawardhana et al., 2015). Nevertheless, because of the cost associated with
irrigation and the limited availability of irrigation water in the area during periods
of low precipitation, the adoption of supplementary irrigation remains
constrained among rain-fed sugarcane cultivators in Sri Lanka (Kodituwakku,
2017).
Soil moisture scarcity can be rectified to some extent by adjusting the timing of
planting (Wijayawardhana et al., 2017), changing cropping practices (De Silva et
al., 2012), and introducing new agricultural practices such as the application of
soil amendments, compost, biochar and other soil moisture-absorbing materials
(Wijayawardhana et al., 2014; Duong et al., 2017). Superabsorbent Polymers
(SAPs), a popular soil moisture absorption material, is a unique granular product
made from corn starch, known for its exceptional ability to retain moisture up to
400 times its dry weight (Chang et al., 2010; Malik et al., 2022; Patra et al., 2022).
SAPs have been shown to significantly enhance soil water retention capacity,
particularly beneficial in water-scarce dry regions (Patra et al., 2022; Radian et al.,
2022). Several studies conducted in Sri Lanka have shown the significant benefits
of applying SAPs in agriculture (Fernando et al., 2014; Rasanjali et al., 2020;
Rasanjali et al, 2023). It was revealed that the application of SAP at optimal doses
improved soil properties, increased crop growth, and enhanced crop productivity
(Shahrokhian et al., 2013; Fallahi et al., 2015). In addition to increasing water-
holding capacity, SAP also mitigates nitrogen and mineral leaching from the soil
(Islam et al., 2014). Nevertheless, based on the literature evidence, it can be
considered that soil moisture can be preserved for a longer duration, and the
moisture content of the root zone soil can be augmented by SAP, thereby
improving the overall efficiency of supplementary irrigation operations (Singh et
al., 2018). While super absorbent polymers (SAPs) offer significant benefits for
enhancing soil water retention, several limitations have also been identified. For
example, some research highlighted that the performance of SAPs is influenced
by soil characteristics, as SAP mixed with larger soil particles sometimes leads to
reduced water retention efficiency (Yu et al., 2012). In addition, Malik et al. (2022)
found that SAP particles tend to break down into smaller sizes after binding with
soil particles, which reduced their anticipated water-holding capacity.
Additionally, compacted soil can hinder the expansion of SAP particles, further
diminishing their effectiveness in retaining moisture (John, 2011). As such, the
effectiveness of SAP application may vary for different soil and crops under
different environmental conditions (Shahrokhian et al., 2013; Hasanvandi et al.,
2014; Fallahi et al., 2015; Güneş et al., 2016).
As demonstrated by Güneş et al. (2016), it showed that in fertile soils, SAP
significantly improved sugarcane growth and yield while obtaining maximum
benefits from irrigation water. This led to a reduction in irrigation costs for
Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition, 2024, Vol. 7(2): 58-70
60
irrigation. Nevertheless, it may reduce the nitrogen (N) leaching from root zone
soil. As such, the objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of
super-absorbent polymers in extending irrigation intervals, thereby improving the
growth and yield of sugarcane in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka and to evaluate their
effect on the leaching fraction of nitrogen fertilizer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted at the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI)
Udawalawe from June 2020 to July 2021. Two separate experiments were
conducted; (i) an open field experiment and (ii) a pot experiment, in a protected
house in order to determine the growth and yield performances of sugarcane, the
effect on nitrogen leaching and soil pH variations due to SAP application,
respectively. In both experiments, variety SL 96 128 was used.
Open-field experiment
The open-field experiment adopted a split-plot layout, with water regime
(irrigation) and SAP treatments. The water regime was the main plot factor,
while the application of SAP was the subplot factor. The main plot factor had
four levels; 10-d, 15-d, 20-d, and 25-d irrigation interval. Each furrow was flooded
for approximately 56 min for the application of 60 mm irrigation depth as per the
properties of RBE soils in Udawalawe (Shanmuganathan, 1990;
Wijayawardhana et al., 2017). The subplot factor or SAP application had two
levels; with SAP (SAP_1) and without SAP (SAP_0). SAP soil amendment was
applied to each plot at a rate of 12.5 kg/ha as per the manufacturer's standards.
Accordingly, the open-filed experiment was comprised of the following eight
treatment combinations with three replicates.
Table 1: Treatment combinations applied for the experiment
Treatment combination
Description
T1
10-d irrigation interval with SAP
T2
15-d irrigation interval with SAP
T3
20-d irrigation interval with SAP
T4
25-d irrigation interval with SAP
T5
10-d irrigation interval without SAP
T6
15-d irrigation interval without SAP
T7
20-d irrigation interval without SAP
T8
25-d irrigation interval without SAP
SAP = Super absorbent polymer
The size of each plot was set at 120 m2, 20 m in length with 5 rows. Sugarcane
was planted with 3 budded 5 sets per meter (planting density = 15 buds per
meter). Land preparation was carried out using the ridge and furrow system, with
a 1% slope maintained along the furrow to facilitate proper drainage and
Wijayawardhana et al.
61
optimize water distribution. Sugarcane cultivation was managed as per the
recommendation of the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI, 1991). The number
of millable stalks, stalk diameter, stalk height and stalk weight were measured at
harvesting time (365 d after planting, DAP) from 45 stalks in randomly selected
9 samples (5 × 9) in each plot. Soil moisture levels were measured at depths of 10
cm, 20 cm, and 40 cm across the root zone soil profile using an AquaPro AP-827
moisture logger. The aim was to assess the effect of SAP on soil moisture. Daily
rainfall and pan evaporation data were obtained from the meteorological station
located near the experimental site at the research farm of the Sugarcane Research
Institute, Udawalawe.
Pot experiment
A pot experiment was also conducted to identify the effect of SAP application on
nitrogen leaching. The experiment consisted of soil-filled 24 plastic buckets (130
L), established with a single sugarcane plant and arranged as per the complete
randomized design (CRD) under a protected house. A total of 12 pots were
treated with SAP (0.5 g of SAP at the planting time and mixed with the surface
soil) and the other 12 served as the control. Nitrogen leaching from each pot was
measured by collecting water samples from the deep drainage water (leachate) at
2-wk intervals until 4 months after planting. It was assumed that SAP would
undergo biodegradation within 4 months. Nitrogen concentration in the leachate
sample was measured using a UV-VIS Spectro-photo meter (Gross et al., 1999).
The total nitrogen content of each leachate was calculated using the below
equation:
𝑁𝑡= 𝐷 × 𝑁𝑠
where, Nt =Total nitrogen amount in the leachate (mg), D= total volume of deep
drained water, Ns = Nitrogen concentration in leachate (mg/L).
Statistical analysis
The effects of irrigation intervals, SAP levels, and their interactions on the growth
and yield parameters of sugarcane were statistically tested using the analysis of
variance (Two way ANOVA) procedure at a 0.05 probability level. The
Friedman test (a non-parametric test) was employed to assess stalk density at
harvest (count data). Possible outliers were removed using the box and whisker
method. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test (Royston, 1982) was conducted before
performing each test to verify the fulfilment of normality assumptions. The
significance of differences among treatments was evaluated using the Tukey test
at α=0.05. The treatment effect of the pot experiment was determined by the
student’s t-test.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Climatic conditions and soil moisture content
Variations in daily rainfall and evaporation observed during the study period are
shown in Figure 01. The total rainfall that was received from the planting date
(15th June 2020) to the harvesting date (16th June 2021) was 1440.8 mm.
Concurrently, the total pan evaporation recorded during the study period was
1152.0 mm.
Figure 1: Daily rainfall and evaporation in the study area
It was observed that soil moisture levels were apparently high in SAP-applied
plots, but statistically not significant at 0.05 probability due to the high variability
of both data series (Figure 2).
Variation of cane yield
The results showed that different irrigation intervals had a significant effect on
sugarcane yield (p=0.007), while the application of super absorbent polymer
(SAP) had no significant effect on sugarcane yield (p=0.424; Table 2). However,
the interaction between irrigation interval and SAP application showed a
marginal effect on sugarcane yield (p=0.05).
The highest sugarcane yields were recorded (Table 3) for 10 days × SAP_1
combination (199.9 t/ha) which was statistically similar to the yield recorded by
all other combinations except for 20 d × SAP_1.
The application of SAP did not lead to a significant improvement in yields at any
irrigation interval level (Table 3). This shows that the application of SAP does
Wijayawardhana et al.
63
not provide an opportunity to effectively modify the existing irrigation schedule.
The 10-d irrigation interval is currently recommended for sugarcane plantations
in Udawalawe (Shanmuganathan, 1990).
Figure 2: Average soil moisture levels of the soil during the study period (a, b, c and d
indicate irrigation intervals with 10, 15, 20 and 25-d respectively, SAP_1= with SAP,
SAP_0 = without SAP, MC% = Soil moisture in volume basis)
Table 2: Probability values (>F) for different parameters
Source of variation
Sugarcane
yield
Stalk
length
Stalk
diameter
Irrigation
0.007
0.001
0.714
Super absorbent polymer
(SAP)
0.424
0.106
0.511
Irrigation × SAP interaction
0.050
0.000
0.733
These findings are consistent with those of Santos and Mendonça (2013), who
demonstrated that the application of SAP did not have a statistically significant
effect on the growth and yield of sugarcane, particularly in conditions where
monthly rainfall exceeded 50 mm. During the study period, the average rainfall
at the experimental site was 120 mm (Figure 1).
SAP_0
SAP_1
SAP_0
SAP_1
SAP_0
SAP_1
SAP_0
SAP_1
Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition, 2024, Vol. 7(2): 58-70
64
Table 3: Variation of sugarcane yield, stalk length and stalk diameter due to the
application of SAP under different irrigation intervals
Treatment
combination
Sugarcane yield
(t/ha)
Stalk length
(m)
Stalk diameter
(mm)
10 d × SAP_1
199.9a±10.6
3.57a±0.12
26.6a±0.14
10 d × SAP_0
176.7ab±7.4
3.24bc±0.06
26.1a±0.64
15 d × SAP_1
181.0ab±2.7
3.26bc±0.05
26.3a±0.53
15 d × SAP_0
199.0a±12.4
3.45ab±0.08
26.4a±0.35
20 d × SAP_1
152.0b±10.4
3.28bc±0.05
26.6a±0.28
20 d × SAP_0
172.2ab±3.0
3.39ab±0.05
26.8a±0.26
25 d × SAP_1
165.1ab±2.1
3.25bc±0.05
26.6a±0.12
25 d × SAP_0
166.8ab±3.7
3.07c±0.20
26.3a±0.35
Note: Mean values followed by the same letter are not significantly different at
the 5% significance level, SAP_1 = with super absorbent polymer, SAP_0 =
without super absorbent polymer
Variation of stalks length at the harvesting
Similar to the sugarcane yield, stalk length also exhibited a significant
improvement in the 10 d × SAP_1 treatment compared to the other treatment
combinations (Table 3). Notably, a significant increase of 10% in sugarcane stalk
length (deference between SAP_1 and SAP_0) was observed in plots treated with
a 10-d irrigation interval. The treatments 10 d × SAP_0 (3.24 m), 15 d × SAP_1
(3.26 m) and 15 d × SAP_0 (3.45 m) are statistically similar to each other but
lower than the 10 d x SAP_1 treatment. It was noted that the lowest value of stalk
length (3.07 m) was given in the treatment combination of 25 d irrigation interval
without application of SAP, and could be considered as the most unfavourable
treatment combination among the tested treatment combinations. As such, it can
be concluded that the significant positive effect due to the application of SAP can
only be observed from stalk length at 10-d irrigation intervals under the
environmental conditions in Udawalawe.
Wijayawardhana et al.
65
Variation of stalk diameter at the harvesting
Stalk diameter was relatively consistent across all treatment combinations (Table
3). On average, stalk diameter was 26.4 mm.
Variation of stalk density at the harvesting
The analysis clearly showed that there were no significant effects on sugarcane
stalk density due to the application of SAP or different irrigation intervals or their
interactions at the harvesting time (Tables 2 and 4). On average, the stalk density
was 106,616±4375 stalks/ha. Post hock test was not conducted.
Table 4: Stalks density variation due to application of SAP under different irrigation
intervals, 10, 15, 20 and 25 d
Treatment
Irrigation interval (d)
10
15
20
25
SAP_0
103329±4499
118236±5871
104440±2121
103051±6461
SAP_1
112958±4174
109070±5821
96015±4931
105829±3255
SAP_0 = Without super absorbent polymer, SAP_1 = With super absorbent polymer
Sugarcane quality at the harvesting
The results depicted in Table 5 demonstrate that none of the sugarcane quality
attributes exhibited significant changes at the 0.05 probability level. Even though
the application of SAP significantly increased the fresh yield and stalk length of
sugarcane with a 10-d irrigation interval, it did not have a positive impact on
sugar production point of view. However the sugar yield was significant at 90%
confidence (p=0.097) due to the application of SAP.
Table 5: Probability values (>F) for different parameters
Source of variation
Sugar yield
Purity
POCS
Irrigation
0.459
0.898
0.729
Super absorbent polymer (SAP)
0.097
0.736
0.601
Irrigation × SAP interaction
0.378
0.928
0.504
POCS = Pure obtainable cane sugar
Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition, 2024, Vol. 7(2): 58-70
66
Nitrogen leaching behaviour through soil profile (deep drainage water) with
application of SAP
During the 10th and 12th wk after planting (4 wk after application of urea; 1st top
dressing), SAP-applied pots showed significantly high nitrogen content in the
leachate (Figure 3). However, it is difficult to form a strong conclusion about the
nitrogen leaching behaviour after the application of SAP, as those pots showed a
significant reduction of nitrogen content in the leachate during the first week
(Figure 3). A similar circumstance was observed by others. For example, Li et al.
(2012) reported that the SAP had strong water absorption but did not significantly
absorb nitrogen.
Figure 3: Variation of nitrogen (N) content in the drained water (leachate) during the
early 4 months from the sugarcane planting; stars indicate the significant changes at 0.95
probability (α=0.05)
Variation of potential of hydrogen in deep drainage water due to application
of SAP
Changes of pH levels in leachate water samples have not shown significant
change between the samples with SAP applied and not applied (Figure 4). Similar
results have been reported by others as well. For instance, the application of SAPs
in leachate treatment has not resulted in notable changes in pH levels between
treated and untreated samples (Pereira et al., 2020). Another study (Makhtar et
al., 2023) mentioned that while SAPs effectively reduce other parameters such as
turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD), the pH remains relatively stable,
often slightly acidic, under various conditions. As such, the present study
SAP_0
SAP_1
Wijayawardhana et al.
67
concluded that the soil pH level was not changed due to the application of SAP
under sugarcane growing reddish brown earth soil in Udalawawe.
Figure 4: Variation of potential hydrogen (pH) in the drained water (leachate) during the
early 4 months of the sugarcane planting
CONCLUSIONS
Current analysis revealed that the application of SAP cannot be used as a
management tool for increasing irrigation intervals aiming at irrigation water
saving. Nevertheless, the sugarcane quality (sugar yield) did not show a
significant change with the application of SAP (sugarcane verity SL 96 128) in
this experiment. However, different sugarcane varieties may perform in different
ways on SAP applications. Furthermore, a clear effect on nitrogen leaching (deep
drainage water) has not been demonstrated by the application of SAP. The pH of
the deep-draining water remained unchanged following the application of SAP.
This study may not fully reflect the potential benefits of the SAP application
under diverse weather conditions, as the lack of prolonged drought events
experienced during the study period, and could create an unclear situation on the
effectiveness of the SAP application. This highlights the need for further research
across different years and planting seasons of Yala and Maha to provide strong
recommendations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The financial support provided by DTW International (Pvt) Ltd, Rajagiriya, Sri
Lanka, is greatly appreciated.
SAP_0
SAP_1
Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition, 2024, Vol. 7(2): 58-70
68
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