@article{HafidiElHatkaSchmitzetal.2024,
  author    = {Hafidi, Youssef and El Hatka, Hicham and Schmitz, Dominik and Krauss, Manuel and Pettrak, J{\"u}rgen and Biel, Markus and Ittobane, Najim},
  title     = {Sustainable soil additives for water and micronutrient supply: swelling and chelating properties of polyaspartic acid hydrogels utilizing newly developed crosslinkers},
  series = {Gels},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Gels},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2310-2861},
  doi       = {10.3390/gels10030170},
  pages     = {Artikel 170},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Drought and water shortage are serious problems in many arid and semi-arid regions. This problem is getting worse and even continues in temperate climatic regions due to climate change. To address this problem, the use of biodegradable hydrogels is increasingly important for the application as water-retaining additives in soil. Furthermore, efficient (micro-)nutrient supply can be provided by the use of tailored hydrogels. Biodegradable polyaspartic acid (PASP) hydrogels with different available (1,6-hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and L-lysine (LYS)) and newly developed crosslinkers based on diesters of glycine (GLY) and (di-)ethylene glycol (DEG and EG, respectively) were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and regarding their swelling properties (kinetic, absorbency under load (AUL)) as well as biodegradability of PASP hydrogel. Copper (II) and zinc (II), respectively, were loaded as micronutrients in two different approaches: in situ with crosslinking and subsequent loading of prepared hydrogels. The results showed successful syntheses of di-glycine-ester-based crosslinkers. Hydrogels with good water-absorbing properties were formed. Moreover, the developed crosslinking agents in combination with the specific reaction conditions resulted in higher water absorbency with increased crosslinker content used in synthesis (10\% vs. 20\%). The prepared hydrogels are candidates for water-storing soil additives due to the biodegradability of PASP, which is shown in an exemple. The incorporation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions can provide these micronutrients for plant growth.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ElBerguiAbouabdillahBouriougetal.2023,
  author    = {El Bergui, Omnia and Abouabdillah, Aziz and Bourioug, Mohamed and Schmitz, Dominik and Biel, Markus and Aboudrare, Abdellah and Krauss, Manuel and Jomaa, Ahlem and Romuli, Sebastian and M{\"u}ller, Joachim and Fagroud, Mustapha and Bouabid, Rachid},
  title     = {Innovative solutions for drought: Evaluating hydrogel application on onion cultivation (Allium cepa) in Morocco},
  series = {Water},
  volume    = {15},
  journal   = {Water},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  doi       = {10.3390/w15111972},
  pages     = {Artikel 1972},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Throughout the last decade, and particularly in 2022, water scarcity has become a critical concern in Morocco and other Mediterranean countries. The lack of rainfall during spring was worsened by a succession of heat waves during the summer. To address this drought, innovative solutions, including the use of new technologies such as hydrogels, will be essential to transform agriculture. This paper presents the findings of a study that evaluated the impact of hydrogel application on onion (Allium cepa) cultivation in Meknes, Morocco. The treatments investigated in this study comprised two different types of hydrogel-based soil additives (Arbovit® polyacrylate and Huminsorb® polyacrylate), applied at two rates (30 and 20 kg/ha), and irrigated at two levels of water supply (100\% and 50\% of daily crop evapotranspiration; ETc). Two control treatments were included, without hydrogel application and with both water amounts. The experiment was conducted in an open field using a completely randomized design. The results indicated a significant impact of both hydrogel-type dose and water dose on onion plant growth, as evidenced by various vegetation parameters. Among the hydrogels tested, Huminsorb® Polyacrylate produced the most favorable outcomes, with treatment T9 (100\%, HP, 30 kg/ha) yielding 70.55 t/ha; this represented an increase of 11 t/ha as compared to the 100\% ETc treatment without hydrogel application. Moreover, the combination of hydrogel application with 50\% ETc water stress showed promising results, with treatment T4 (HP, 30 kg, 50\%) producing almost the same yield as the 100\% ETc treatment without hydrogel while saving 208 mm of water.},
  language  = {en}
}