A method is disclosed of in-situ retention and buffering of an amount of water in soil to support the growth of an agricultural crop. The method comprises the step of adding an effective amount of a hydrogel material as a water retention agent during planting of seed in the soil. The hydrogel material including an insoluble, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose. Once penetration of water into the soil is allowed after the planting of seed, a proportion of the water which penetrates the soil is absorbed by the hydrogel material and, over time, the absorbed water is released by diffusion into the soil to support the growth of the agricultural crop. Also disclosed is the hydrogel material which comprises said carboxymethyl cellulose which has been cross-linked with a cross-linking polymer from the group consisting of: an amine monomer; an amide monomer; and an amine-amide co-polymer.

A method is disclosed of in-situ retention and buffering of an amount of water in soil to support the growth of an agricultural crop. The method comprises the step of adding an effective amount of a hydrogel material as a water retention agent during planting of seed in the soil. The hydrogel material including an insoluble, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose. Once penetration of water into the soil is allowed after the planting of seed, a proportion of the water which penetrates the soil is absorbed by the hydrogel material and, over time, the absorbed water is released by diffusion into the soil to support the growth of the agricultural crop. Also disclosed is the hydrogel material which comprises said carboxymethyl cellulose which has been cross-linked with a cross-linking polymer from the group consisting of: an amine monomer; an amide monomer; and an amine-amide co-polymer.

A block copolymer (A) including a vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) and an ionic polymer block (c) containing a monomer unit with an ionic group forming a salt and a vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit. The ionic group is a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, or an ammonium group. The vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) from 15,000 to 220,000. The ionic polymer block (c) has a content of the vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit from 5 to 95 mol % based on the total monomer units. The block copolymer (A) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) from 20,000 to 440,000. A ratio (Mn.sub.b/Mn.sub.A) of the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) is from 0.1 to 0.9.

Water purification particles have porous particles and photocatalyst particles formed of titanium-based compound particles that are supported on the porous particles, have absorption at a wavelength of 500 nm in a visible absorption spectrum, and have an absorption peak at 2,700 cm.sup.−1 to 3,000 cm.sup.−1 in an infrared absorption spectrum, and a metal compound having a metal atom and a hydrocarbon group is bonded to the surface of each of the titanium-based compound particles through an oxygen atom.

A gel plug comprised of a gel may be used for growth of plants. The gel may include two polysaccharide components, with a second of the two components providing increased rigidity Plants may be grown, including from seed, in the gel plug.

A planting bag formed from biodegradable material and sized for receipt of a planting. The planting bag having a water delivery system comprising at least two distribution lines secured to the bag and a splitter for coupling to a conventional water hose. A fertilizer admixture and water absorbing polymer are impregnated into the side wall of the bag allowing close proximity to the root ball of the planting to minimize the loss of fertilizer and provide a means for directing water around the planting root ball.

This document provides hemp fiber biocomposites and methods and materials for making and using hemp fiber biocomposites. For example, hemp fiber biocomposites that can be used as a hydroponic growth medium are provided. Methods for making hemp fiber biocomposites also are provided.

This document provides hemp fiber biocomposites and methods and materials for making and using hemp fiber biocomposites. For example, hemp fiber biocomposites that can be used as a hydroponic growth medium are provided. Methods for making hemp fiber biocomposites also are provided.

A water-absorbent copolymer may include a vinyl alcohol constituent unit x and a constituent unit z other than the vinyl alcohol constituent unit x and a vinyl ester constituent unit y, wherein a ratio of a content of an average sequence of the constituent unit z to a content of the constituent unit z is 50.0 mol % or less.

A water-absorbent copolymer may include a vinyl alcohol constituent unit x and a constituent unit z other than the vinyl alcohol constituent unit x and a vinyl ester constituent unit y, wherein a ratio of a content of an average sequence of the constituent unit z to a content of the constituent unit z is 50.0 mol % or less.