Investigating the effects of hydrogel application on other crops and soil types

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future-work section and limitations section and stated research gap of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals. Those papers have been cited 22 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Construction of PEGMC Copolymerized Modified Hydrogel and Its Mechanism for Salt Retardation and Nutrient Immobilization in Dryland Soil (2026) · Gels · cited 1× · doi

  long-term field trials will be conducted to verify the practical applicability and persistent remediation effect of the hydrogel - further studies on material long-term stability, biodegradation, and soil ecological safety will be performed - scale-up preparation optimization, economic evaluation, in situ mechanism characterization, and multi-season application tests will be carried out to supplement the current research system - future work will focus on further formula optimization combined with long-term field experiments to facilitate its large-scale practical application

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: long-term field trials conducted verify practical applicability persistent
• Construction of PEGMC Copolymerized Modified Hydrogel and Its Mechanism for Salt Retardation and Nutrient Immobilization in Dryland Soil (2026) · Gels · cited 1× · doi

  all tests were performed under controlled laboratory conditions, and further field trials are required to verify the practical applicability and extrapolation of the research findings - this study mainly focused on the short-term efficacy of the hydrogel, while its long-term structural stability, biodegradability and in-soil ecological effects need further systematic investigation - the current work prioritizes material performance and mechanistic exploration, and the scale-up preparation technology and economic feasibility still need further evaluation - the ion immobilization mechanism is elucidated based on macroscopic results and theoretical simulations, and supplementary in situ spectroscopic characterization can further consolidate the microscopic mechanism - only single-season application effects were investigated herein, and multi-season cumulative improvement effects and soil microbial responses deserve further exploration

  generallimitations section
  Keywords: all tests were performed controlled laboratory conditions further
• Sustainable Date Palm Biomass Hydrogel Improves Soil Hydro-Physical Properties and Tomato Growth Under Arid Conditions (2026) · Gels · cited 2× · doi

  Investigate the effects of hydrogel application on other crops and soil types. Examine the long-term effects of hydrogel application on soil properties and plant growth. Develop more efficient and cost-effective methods for synthesizing biodegradable hydrogels.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: investigate effects hydrogel application other crops soil types
• Hydrogel Development, Processing and Applications in Agriculture: A Review (2026) · Gels · cited 9× · doi

  The limitations of conventional synthetic hydrogels, including their persistence in soils and potential microplastic formation. The need for biodegradable hydrogels derived from renewable biopolymers that can improve water management and nutrient delivery in agriculture.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: limitations conventional synthetic hydrogels including persistence soils potential
• Hydrogel Development, Processing and Applications in Agriculture: A Review (2026) · Gels · cited 9× · doi

  Evaluation of the properties of soils before and after the incorporation of hydrogel matrices. Characterization of the effects of microorganisms present in soils on hydrogel degradation. Investigation of the effects of hydrogels on plant growth and development.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: evaluation properties soils before after incorporation hydrogel matrices
• Disintegration characteristics of red clay-tungsten tailings mixtures improved with guar gum and xanthan gum (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi

  Addressing limitations to support field-scale application - Investigating long-term mechanical and disintegration performance under microbial activity - Evaluating effects of variable pH, salinity, and repeated wet-dry cycles on biopolymer-stabilized mixtures - Conducting pilot-scale trials to verify engineering feasibility

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: addressing limitations support field-scale application investigating long-term mechanical
• Hydrogel-assisted deficit irrigation improves sugar beet yield, quality, and water-use efficiency in arid sandy loam soils (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  Investigate the effects of hydrogel application on other crops and soil types. Conduct long-term studies to evaluate the sustainability of deficit irrigation and hydrogel application. Explore the potential of hydrogel application in combination with other water-saving strategies.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: investigate effects hydrogel application other crops soil types
• Hydrogel-assisted deficit irrigation improves sugar beet yield, quality, and water-use efficiency in arid sandy loam soils (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  The study was conducted over two seasons, which may not be representative of long-term effects. The study was conducted in a specific region (Alexandria desert road, Egypt) with limited generalizability to other regions. The study did not investigate the effects of hydrogel application on other crops or soil types.

  generallimitations sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study was conducted two seasons representative long-term effects

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