Waters in nature are decreasing. It is a fact, although to some extent it seems to go into a dispute with natural laws. What about it? Experts agree that the solution could be so -called superhydrophobic sand.
If we are talking about a lack of water, it is not so much of the total water content of any state on the planet, but the water that plants have on our beds. And this is important for gardeners and crucial for harvest.
Find out about this phenomenon more from the YouTub video from Megadarkyvideo:
The climate is simply changing
Climate change is an indisputable fact, and therefore growers are looking for other new ways to keep moisture where it is most needed, ie at the root of plants. A breakthrough solution could be just superhydrophobic sand, which will be appreciated mainly by plants demanding on sufficient water supply. They are mainly from our gardens. If we offer them this modern material, they can surprisingly grow well and produce even in almost extremely dry conditions.
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Water does not simply pass through it
What do we imagine under the term superhydrophobic sand? It is basically a fairly ordinary sand, but treated, but to repel water. On each of its grains there is an applied layer of material repellent water. It can be silicone, but also other materials. And how can such sand work? It’s actually quite “simple”. While conventional sand permits water between its grains into the lower layers, and on the contrary, it also allows its evaporation into the air, the material is repelled by the water, which does not pass through it and remains just below the surface of the substrate.
Protective layer under the roots
It is already clear how much sand in agriculture can help. If we place it around the roots of plants, it will function as a protective layer that will reduce the evaporation of water. It gets to the roots, but then it is detained and remains in place. This gives each plant to ensure enough water for a longer period of time.
Tomatoes and peppers rejoice
If we had to choose garden crops that are most demanding on enough moisture, it would certainly appear on the highest ranks of the imaginary ranking, and also peppers. Lack of water will soon be “appreciated” by wilting and very low crop. And because we definitely don’t want it, we should become interested in superhydrophobic sand. While in his case it is still a novelty in the hands of scientists, gardeners usually know so -called hydrogels. What is the difference between them?
What are hydrogels?
We have already described the modified sand briefly, but the hydrogels work on a quite different principle. They are polymers that can retain a large amount of water and gradually release it into the soil. Their big disadvantage in seeming perfection is the possibility, and also the impossibility of decomposition in nature.
So far for children, soon for gardeners …
So it seems that superhydrophobic sand will be a much more convenient option. So far, children can play with similarly modified material, or sometimes it becomes an interesting decoration for aquariums. Its expansion to normal operation will probably mean literally a revolution in the cultivation of hygrophilous plants.
