Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Super-Absorbent Application on Crops Yield in Iran

پژوهشهای زراعی ایران

Article 2, Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 54, July 2019, Pages 207-220   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/gsc.v17i2.68101

Authors

M Jahan^* ; M Nasiri mahalati

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

Introduction
The most fundamental agricultural obstacle particularly in arid and semi-arid regions is water shortage. To mitigate this problem, application of some soil amendments such as water super absorbent polymers (SAP) for increasing water-holding capacity in the soil has been under attention at commercial level in recent years.
Despite numerous studies in Iran and the apparent positive and various functions have been mentioned for SAP and their advantageous in agriculture, there has not been a precise conclusion about these studies. On the other hand, variations in consumption rate, conditions and experimental treatments, makes an impossibility or hardiness to receive a conclusive result for the researchers studying one or few numbers of relevant articles.
 Meta-analysis is the statistical procedure for combining data from multiple studies. When the treatment effect (or effect size) is consistent from one study to the next, meta-analysis can be used to identify this common effect. When the effect varies from one study to the next, meta-analysis may be used to identify the reason for the variation. Decisions about the utility of an intervention or the validity of a hypothesis cannot be based on the results of a single study, because results typically vary from one study to the next. Rather, a mechanism is needed to synthesize data across studies (Rosenthal, 2001). Narrative reviews had been used for this purpose, but the narrative review is largely subjective (different experts can come to different conclusions) and becomes impossibly difficult when there are more than a few studies involved. Meta-analysis, by contrast, applies objective formulas (much as one would apply statistics to data within a single study), and can be used with any number of studies.
Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of doing meta-analysis on the results of conducted researches in Iran and to answer a general question that whether the application of SAP has been successful or not, and if yes, how much of SAP is recommended.
Materials and Methods
To conduct this research, articles were published during 2006-2016 with the subject of the effect of different rates of SAP on yield and yield components of crops (including cereals, legumes, medicinal and rangeland plants) were investigated. Amongst 32 articles were checked, 13 articles have enough data to conduct the meta-analysis for seed yield, dry matter yield and harvest index.
Results and Discussion
The result of meta-analysis showed that the mean consumption rate of SAP for cereals, legumes, medicinal and rangeland plants were 83, 322, 1031 and 210 kg ha-1, respectively, and with this consumption rate of SAP, the mean seed yield in cereals, medicinal plants and legumes increased by 13.2, 11.2 and 27.5% (equal to 1059, 345 and 452 kg ha-1), respectively, compared with control.
Generally, the results showed that the effect of SAP on seed yield and dry matter was significant but was not significant for harvest index. The effect size of the application of different SAP rates on dry matter yield and at the whole levels was greater than its effect size on seed yield. The most effect size on seed yield was considered for the application of 100 kg ha-1 SAP and the application rates greater than 200 kg ha-1, unlike the dry matter yield, had no significant effect on seed yield.
Conclusions
According to the results, it seems that application of 100 kg ha-1 SAP is the most appropriate rate on seed yield and dry matter increment and economical aspects. Design and implementation of the researches focused on estimation and comparison of economic benefits about water consumption as the result of SAP application can justify the relatively high cost of this ecological input and provide the necessary ground for its widespread use by farmers and producers involved in agronomy and horticultural sections.

Keywords

Seed yield; Cereals; Medicinal plants; Meta-analysis

References

1- Abedi-Koupai, J., Sohrab, J., and Swarbrick, G. 2008. Evaluation of hydrogel application on soil water retention characteristics. Journal of Plant Nutrition 31: 317-331. (in Persian with English abstract).

2- Allahdadi, A. B., Ghamsari, M., Akbari, G. A., and Zohourmehr, M. 2005. Study the effect of different levels of super absorbent polymer and irrigation on corn (Zea mayz L.) growth and yield. 3th Congress on Super Absorbent Hydrogel Application in Agriculture. Research Center for Polymer and Petrochemical of Iran. (in Persian with English abstract).

3- Allahyari, S., Golchin, A., and Vaezi, A. 2012. Study on effect of super absorbent polymer application on yield and yield components of two chickpea cultivars under rain fed conditions. Journal of Plant Production Research, 20 (1): 125-140. (in Persian with English abstract).

4- Austin, R. B., Bringham, J., Blackwell, R. D., Evans, L. T., Ford, M. A., Morgan, C. L., and Taylor, M. 1998. Genetic improvement in winter wheat yield since 1980 and associated physiological changes. Journal of Agricultural Science 84: 675-689.

5- Bannayan, M., Sanjani, S., Alizadeh, A., Sadeghi Lotfabadi, S., and Mohamadian, A. 2010. Association between climate indices, aridity index, and rain fed crop yield in northeast of Iran. Field Crops Research 118: 105-114.

6- Bayat, M., Rostami, G., and Haddadiyan, M. A huge view on extractable water resources and the states of water supplying plans in Iran. Journal of Civil Engineering 39: 26-37.

7- Bowman, D. C., and Evans, R. Y. 1991. Calcium inhibition of polyacrylamide gel hydration is partially reversible by potassium. Horticultural Science 26 (8): 1063-1065.

8- Cerrato, M. E., and Blackmer, A. M. 1990. Comparison of models for describing; corn yield response to nitrogen fertilizer. Agronomy Journal 82: 138-143.

9- Chatzopoulos, F., Fugit, J. F., and Ouillous, L. 2000. Etu deocation function do different parameters dolabsption et alla desorption do Sodium retitule, European Polymer Journal 36: 51-60.

10- Dabhi, R., Bhatt, N., and Pandit, B. 2013. Super absorbent polymers-An innovative water saving technique for optimizing crop yield. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology 2 (10): 5333-5340.

11- Degaiorgi, C. F. 2002. Hydrogels for immobilization of bacteria used in treatment of metal contaminated wastes. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 63: 109-113.

12- Deng, X. P., Shan, L., Zhang, H., and Turner, N. C. 2006. Improving agricultural water use efficiency in arid and semiarid areas of China. Agricultural Water Management 80 (1-3): 23-40.

13- Jahan, M., Sohrabi, R., Doayi, F., and Amiri, M. B. 2013. Effect of super absorbent water application in soil and humic acid foliar application on some agroecological characteristics of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Mashhad (Iran). Journal of Agroecology 3 (2): 71-90. (in Persian with English abstract).

14- Gurevitch, J., and Hedges, L. V. 1999. Statistical issues in ecological meta-analyses. Ecology 80: 1142-1149.

15- Hedges, L. V., and Olkin, I. 1985. Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. New York: Academic Pub. ISBN-13: 978-0123363800.

16- Hedges, L. V., Gurevitch, J., and Curtis, P. S. 1999. The meta-analysis of response ratios in experimental ecology. Ecology 80: 1150-1156.

17- Hooman, H. A. 2007. Handbook of meta-analysis in scientific research. SAMT Pub. Tehran, Iran. ISBN: 978-964-530-314-1. (in Persian).

18- Islam M. R., Eneji, A. E. Ren, C., Li, J., and Hu, Y. 2011. Impact of water-saving superabsorbent polymer on oat (Avena spp.) yield and quality in an arid sandy soil. Scientific Research and Essays 6: 720-728.

19- Jahan, M., Ranjbar, F., and Kamayestani, N. 2013. Assay for applying super absorbent polymer in a low-input corn production system aimed to reduce drought stress. Agroecology 5 (3): 272-281. (in Persian with English abstract).

20- Jahan, M., Amiri, M. B., Naseri, N., Salehabadi, M., and Abbasi, S. Evaluation of principal components in water use efficiency (WUE) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in response of the increased rates application of water super absorbent. (in Press).

21- Jahan, M., Amiri, M. B., and Noorbakhsh, F. 2017. Evaluation and comparison of different economic and environmental scenarios for bean (Phaseolous vulgaris L.) production via optimization of water superabsorbent, humic acid and cattle manure application. Iranian Journal of Pulses Research 8 (2): 10-30. (in Persian with English abstract).

22- Jahan, M., Amiri, M. B., and Noorbakhsh, F. 2017. Evaluation of the increased rates of water super absorbent and humic acid application under deficit irrigation condition on some agroecological characteristics of Zea mays using response surface methodology. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 14 (4): 746-764. (in Persian with English abstract).

23- Jahan, M., Ghalenoie, S., Khamooshi, A., and Amiri, M. B. 2014. Evaluation of agroecological characteristics of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) as affected by application of water-saving superabsorbent and humic acid under irrigation interval. Horticultural Science 29 (2): 240-254. (in Persian with English abstract).

24- Jahan, M., Nassiri Mahallati, M., Ranjbar, F., Aryaee, M., and Kamayestani, N. 2013. The effects of super absorbent polymer and humic acid application in drought stress reduction and enhancing quantitative and qualitative yield of sugar beet under Mashhad conditions. Journal of Agroecology 6 (4): 753-766. (in Persian with English abstract).

25- Khadem, A., Ramroodi, M., Galavi, M., and Roosta, M. G. 2010. The effect of drought stress and application of different rates of manure and superabsorbent polymer on yield and yield components of Zea mays L. Iranian Journal of Crops Sciences 42 (1): 115-123. (in Persian with English abstract).

26- Kiniry, J. R., Bean, B., Xie, U., and Chen, P. 2004. Maize yield potential: critical processes and simulation modeling in a high-yielding environment. Agricultural Systems 82: 45-56.

27- Koocheki, A., Nassiri Mahallati, M., Bakhshaee, S., Davari, A., and Zare Zadeh, T. A meta-analysis of nitrogen fertilizer experiments for cereal crops in Iran. (in Press).

28- Koohestani, S., Asgari, N., and Maghsudi, K. 2009. Study the effect of super absorbent hydrogel on corn (Zea mayz L.) yield under drought stress. Journal of Iran Water Research 5: 71-78. (in Persian with English abstract).

29- Martin, C. A., Ruter, J. M., Robertson, R. W. and Sharp, W. P. 1993. Element absorption and hydration potential of polyacrylamide gels. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 24 (5-6): 539-548.

30- Martin, E. T. 1997. Controlled-Release and Stabilized Fertilizers in Agriculture. Published by the International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris, France. ISBN 2-9506299-0-3.

31- Mirzaei, M., Rezvani, M. A., and Gohari, J. 2005. Effect of water stress at different growth stages on yield and some physiological characteristics of sugar beet. Journal of Sugar Beet 21 (1): 1-14. (in Persian with English abstract).

32- Monnig, S. 2005. Water saturated superabsorbent polymers used in high strength concrete. Otto Graf Journal 16: 193-202.

33- Moosavi Niya, M., and Attarpoor, A. 2004. Evaluation of the effect of superabsorbent polymer on deficit irrigation of turf grass. Third workshop on superabsorbent Hydrogels application in Agriculture. Research Center for Polymer and Petrochemicals of Iran.

34- Morison, J. I. L., Baker, N. R., Mullineaux, P. M., and Davies, W. J. 2008. Improving water use in crop production. Advances in Water Resources 34 (2): 272-281.

35- Nelson, L. A., Voss, R. D., and Pesek, J. T. 1985. Agronomic and statistical evaluation of fertilizer response. P. 53-90. In: O. P. Engelstad (ed.) fertilizer technology and use. Third ed. ASA, Madison.

36- Neuman, L. W. 2000. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 4th Edition, Allyn & Bacon, Needham Heights. ISBN 0205297714.

37- Nykanen, V. P. S., Nykanen, A., Puska, M. A., Goulart-Silva, G., and Ruokolainen, J. 2011. Dual-responsive and super absorbing thermally cross-linked hydrogel based on methacrylate-substituted polyphosphazene. Soft Matter 7: 4414-4424.

38- Peng, S., Laza, R., Visperas, R., Sanico, A., Cassman, K. G., and Khush, G. 2000. Grain yield of rice cultivars and lines developed in the Philippines since 1966. Crop Science 40: 307-314.

39- Pornyazpour, A., Habib, D., and Roshan, B. 2007. What is super absorbent? Journal of Agricultural and Natural Resources Engineering 4 (15): 1-3. (in Persian with English abstract).

40- Rahmani, M., Habibi, D., Shirani Rad, A. M., and Daneshian, G. 2009. The effect of application of different amounts of super absorbent polymer on yield and antioxidant enzymes activity in Sinapis arvensis L. under drought stress conditions. Journal of Environmental Stress in Plants 1 (1): 23-38. (in Persian with English abstract).

41- Rajabi, L., Sajedi, N. A., and Roshandel, M. 2011. Yield and yield components response of Cicer arietinum to salicylic acid and superabsorbent polymer. Journal of Crop Production Research 4 (4): 343-353. (in Persian with English abstract).

42- Reza, A., Friedel, J. K., and Bodner, G. 2012. Improving Water Use Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture. In: Agroecology and strategies for climate change Book Series: Sustainable Agriculture Reviews. Lichtfouse, E. (Eds.). 8: 167-211.

43- Roostayi, Kh., Movahhedi Dehnavi, M., Khadem, M., and Oliyayi, H. R. 2011. The effect of different rates of super absorbent polymer and manure on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of soybean under drought stress. Journal of Crop Production Research 14 (1): 33-42. (in Persian with English abstract).

44- Rosenthal, R. 2001. Meta-analysis: Recent development in quantitative methods for literature reviews. Annual Review of Psychology 52: 59-82.

45- Roshdi, M. 2012. Investigation of reproductive traits and yield of sunflower under different irrigation levels and super absorbent polymer. Journal of Crop Production Research 5 (4): 373-385. (in Persian with English abstract).

46- Salar, N., Farhpoor, M., and Baharim F. 2004. Evaluation of the effect of water super absorbent polymer on irrigation interval in melon cultivation. Third workshop on superabsorbent Hydrogels application in Agriculture. Research Center for Polymer and Petrochemicals of Iran.

47- Setter, T. L., Brian, A., Lannigan, F., and Melkonian, J. 2001. Loss of kernel set due to water deficit and shade in maize: carbohydrate supplies, abscisic acid and cytokinins. Crop Science 41: 1530-1540.

48- Soltani, E., and Soltani, A. 2014. Meta-analysis of seed priming effects on germination: a case study in Iran. Abstract. 1st International and 13rd Iranian Seed Science and Technology Conference. August 24-26, Karaj, Iran.

49- Talayee, A., and Asadzade, A. 2004. Evaluation of the effect of superabsorbent hydrogels in drought mitigation on olive trees. Third workshop on superabsorbent Hydrogels application in Agriculture. Research Center for Polymer and Petrochemicals of Iran.

50- Van Groenigen, J. W., Lubbers, I. M., Vos, H. M. J., Brown, G. G., De Deyn, G. B., and Van Gronigen, K. J. 2014. Earthworms increase plant production: a meta-analysis. Scientific Reports 4: (6365): 1-7. DOI: 10.1038/srep06365.

51- Wang, W., and Wang, A. 2010. Nanocomposite of carboxymethyl cellulose and attapulgite as a novel pH-sensitive superabsorbent: Synthesis, characterization and properties. Carbohydrate Polymers 82: 83-91.

52- Wolf, F. 1986. Meta-Analysis: Quantitative Methods for Research Synthesis. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

53- Xie, L., Liu, M., Ni, B., Zhang, X., and Wang, Y. 2011. Slow-release nitrogen and boron fertilizer from a functional superabsorbent formulation based on wheat straw and attapulgite. Chemical Engineering Journal 167: 342-348.

54- Yazdani, F., Allahdadi, A., Akbari, A., and Behbahani, M. R. 2007. The effect of different levels of super absorbent polymer (Rarawat A200) and different drought level on yield and yield components of soybean. Pajouhesh and Sazandegi in Agronomy and Horticulture 75: 168-174. (in Persian with English abstract).

55- Yousefi Fard, Y., Asare, A., and Kalhor, M. 2010. The effect of superabsorbent application on yield and yield components of Zea mays SC 704 under Lorestan conditions. Water Science and Engineering 1 (3): 7-16. (in Persian with English abstract).

56- Zhong, K., Lin, Z. T., Zheng, X. L., Jiang, G. B., Fang, Y. S., Mao, X. Y., and Liao, Z. W. 2013. Starch derivative-based superabsorbent with integration of water-retaining and controlled-release fertilizers. Carbohydrate Polymers 92: 1367-1376.

57- Zhong, K., Zheng, X. L., Mao, X. Y., Lin, Z. T., and Jiang, G. B. 2012. Sugarcane bagasse derivative-based superabsorbent containing phosphate rock with water-fertilizer integration. Carbohydrate Polymers 90: 820-826.