Irrigation in dry lands a possibility in Future

Researchers at Texas may have found a way to water plants in dry areas with soil additive Super-Moisture-Absorbent Gel (SMAG) which when mixed into the ground, will absorb water from the air to plants.

The Gel functions similar to dew, which is formed due to air temperature difference during day and night. When the air cools at night, it loses its ability to hold moisture and excess moisture will condense out onto surfaces, forming dew and the gel absorbs the moisture and doesn't allow it to evaporate, instead releases water into the soil.

Researchers have already successfully grown radish on the roof of a building in Texas, however for commercial application in large fields further research is still required.

Congratulations to the researchers and hope to see the mass scale experimentation a success which could then allow crops grown in dryer climates, where irrigation was not considered.