Document Type : Research Paper
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Abstract
The effect of different level of polymer water absorbent (supper A200) mixed with desert sand were studied in comparing to pure sand and clay soil on survival and growth of Panicum antidotale in pot condition in Research Institute of Forests and Rangeland, Tehran, Iran for three years. The polymer treatments were 0.2%, 0.6% and 1.0% W/W. The irrigation period was determined based on field capacity of pure sand for all treatments. The results showed no significant differences among treatments for plant growth in the first year. However, the treatment of sand with 0.6% polymer had the most survival plants with average values of 100%. The pots were not irrigated in the 2nd year because there were enough precipitations. All survived plants from 1st year were dead at the end of 2nd year. So, the experiment was repeated at the 3rd year. The results showed significant differences among treatments. The survived plant for clay treatment with average values of 6.17 g dry matter per plant had higher production and followed by 0.6% and 1.0% W/W polymer treatments mixed with desert sand. Those treatments had significant differences with pure sand controls. The lower amount of dry matter was obtained by control pure desert sand with average values of 2.91 g dry matter per plant.
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