Chemistry Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Nigeria.
Sci Prog. 2013;96(Pt 1):85-94. doi: 10.3184/003685013X13587941096281.
The application of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) and/or biochars to stressed lands offer solutions to several critical ecological, energy and economic challenges posed by degraded lands due to human activities. These substances are like, 'artificial humus' as they are hydrophilic and contain carboxylic groups (SAPs) which enable them to bind cations and water and sequester carbon from air to reverse global warming (biochars). Several research studies using these substances point to their ability to increase the plant-available water in the soil which enables the plants to survive longer with water shortage, increase soil fertility and agricultural yields, improve soil structure, aeration and water penetration, reduce use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, reduce nitrous oxide and methane emission from soil, reduce nitrate and farm chemicals leaching into watersheds, convert green and brown wastes into valuable resources, and reduce the evapotranspiration rate of the plants. SAPs and biochars induce a significantly higher growth rate in plants; they bind heavy metals and mitigate their action on plants as well as mitigate the effects of salinity. This paper reviews what is known about these claims and considers the wider environmental implications of the adoption of these processess. The intention is not just to summarise the current knowledge but also to identify gaps that require further research.
超级吸水聚合物（SAP）和/或生物炭在受胁迫土地上的应用为因人类活动而退化的土地所带来的几个关键生态、能源和经济挑战提供了解决方案。这些物质就像“人工腐殖质”，因为它们具有亲水性并含有羧酸基团（SAP），这使它们能够结合阳离子和水，并将空气中的碳固定下来以阻止全球变暖（生物炭）。几项使用这些物质的研究指出，它们能够增加土壤中植物可用的水分，使植物在缺水的情况下更长时间地存活，增加土壤肥力和农业产量，改善土壤结构、通气性和水渗透性，减少合成肥料和农药的使用，减少土壤中氮氧化物和甲烷的排放，减少硝酸盐和农田化学品进入流域的淋失，将绿色和棕色废物转化为有价值的资源，并降低植物的蒸散率。SAP 和生物炭会显著提高植物的生长速度；它们会与重金属结合，减轻其对植物的作用，并减轻盐分的影响。本文综述了这些说法的已知情况，并考虑了采用这些工艺的更广泛的环境影响。其目的不仅仅是总结现有知识，还要确定需要进一步研究的空白。
