Title : Performance of montmorillonite-nonionic polyacrylamide water-conducting material
Abstract:
Water scarcity has long been a critical factor limiting vegetation survival in desertified regions. Optimizing the spatiotemporal distribution of irrigation water to maximize the utilization of limited water resources is a key bottleneck determining the success of desertification restoration efforts. Embedding self-regulating water-conduction materials with adjustable infiltration rates into subsurface irrigation emitters to create self-regulating infiltration devices offers a reliable solution to this challenge.
This presentation shows a montmorillonite-polyacrylamide water-conduction material through physical blending of sodium montmorillonite and nonionic polyacrylamide. By leveraging the differential water-binding capacities of montmorillonite and polyacrylamide, the material enables autonomous regulation of water flow based on real-time soil moisture levels. Preliminary simulated irrigation tests demonstrated that simple emitters fabricated from this material maintained stable soil humidity while reducing average flow rates by one-third compared to conventional cotton-based emitters.
Furthermore, previously developed sodium montmorillonite-anionic polyacrylamide water-conduction materials have shown significant application potential in Cistanche deserticola cultivation. This approach achieves triple benefits—ecological restoration, economic value, and water conservation—while optimizing water resource utilization during vegetation recovery in desertified areas. The sodium montmorillonite-nonionic polyacrylamide water-conduction material also holds promising potential for extending water-efficient subsurface irrigation systems to other low-water-consumption crops in arid regions.
