Hydrogels as an Emerging Water Management Tool for Sustainable Vegetable Production: A Review

Abstract

Water scarcity and climate variability pose major challenges to sustainable vegetable production, which is terrifically dependent on continuous soil moisture and efficient water use. Hydrogels, or superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), have dawn as promising soil amendments due to their merit to absorb and retain huge quantities of water and release it step by step according to plant demand. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the concept, classification and functional properties of hydrogels, emphasizing their role in enhancing soil water-holding capacity, improving soil physical characteristics, reducing irrigation frequency and increasing water use efficiency. Research findings indicate that hydrogel application improves germination, vegetative growth, yield and quality attributes of various vegetable crops, particularly under water-deficit conditions. Hydrogels also mitigate drought stress by maintaining plant physiological processes and enhancing stress tolerance mechanisms. Additionally, their integration with nutrient management reduces nutrient leaching, enhances fertilizer efficiency and supports climate-smart and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems. While biodegradable and eco-friendly hydrogel alternatives address environmental concerns associated with synthetic polymers, continued research and development are required to optimize formulations for field-scale adoption. Overall, hydrogels present an effective water management tool for sustainable and climate-resilient vegetable production.