This article is about the lifetime of potassium in soil and how to increase it.
As a water-retaining agent, potassium polyacrylate has a strong water-retaining ability.
To absorb water hundred times its weight and become gel form;
Water gel can release water to plants when it's drought.
As we know, water is so important for plants. Potassium polyacrylate is just a "mini-reservoir" to keep releasing water to plants so that:
Increase yield of crop & fruiter;
Improve seed germination & emergence, give plants an early, healthy start;
Reduce irrigation frequency;
Release the fertilizer efficiency slowly;
loosen the soil and adjust salinization & PH.
Factor One - Soil
Saltiness. Saltiness is a very factor for the life & performance of potassium polyacrylate;
Soil type. It's better to use potassium polyacrylate in sand soil than clay/silt loam.
Factor Two - Temperature
Extreme weather will reduce the lifetime of potassium polyacrylate. Deep culture is a good way to protect it.
Factory Three - Product quality
Fake type (sodium polyacrylate): less than one week
*Because sodium polyacrylate is much cheaper than potassium polyacrylate, sodium polyacrylate is sold by profiteer as potassium polyacrylate.
Inferior type: 2-4 weeks in soil
Common type: 1-3 months
*As common potassium polyacrylate's lifetime is a couple of months, it's important to seize the important period of plants (such as nursery stage, anthesis, fruiting period, etc.)
Improved type (like Pack Rain): 5-8 years
*Pack rain is a type of improved water-retaining agent. It can be workable in the soil for as long as 5-8 years.