Effects of water absorbing polymers on the properties of meadow-gray-earth soils under Mugan conditions of the Azerbaijan Republic

The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in difficult arid climatic conditions. In terms of water shortage, the Republic of Azerbaijan ranks 4th in the post-Soviet space after Turkmenistan, Moldova and Uzbekistan. Therefore, in order to obtain agricultural products, it is necessary to introduce water-saving reclamation technologies. As an alternative, scientists propose the use of superabsorbent polymers – hydrogels. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of hydrogel polymers on soil properties, in particular grain size distribution and salinity in the culti-vation of corn Zea mays L. The pH value was in the range of 7.7...7.8, and after the experiment the value increased to 7.5...8.3. The dry residue before the study was in the range of 0.104...0.300%, and after - there was an accumulation of salts to the values of 1.266...1.719%. The CaSO4 test field was 0.068...0.135 milligram equivalent, and there was no gypsum in the upper 0...50 cm layer, there was an accumulation of sodium sulfate Na2SO4 by 1.9...8.7% to 0.842...1.318 milligram equivalent.