How PGA Becomes a Powerful Tool for Agricultural Drought Resistance and Water Retention

PGA is a water-soluble, anionic biopolymer of amino acids produced by microbial fermentation. One of its most notable properties is its extremely strong hydrophilicity and water-retention capacity. In agricultural applications, this directly translates into drought resistance, water retention, and increased yields.

Core Water-Retention Mechanism

• Superior Hydrophilicity and Hydration

PGA molecular chains are densely packed with hydrophilic groups such as carboxyl (-COOH) groups. These groups act like “little magnets,” strongly attracting water molecules through hydrogen bonds. Its molecular structure forms a three-dimensional network that “locks” large amounts of free water within the mesh, converting it into bound water and significantly slowing water loss.

• “Reservoir” Effect

When PGA is applied to the soil, it forms a water-rich “micro-reservoir” around the crop root system. During irrigation or rainfall, it quickly absorbs and stores excess water, preventing water loss through seepage or evaporation. When the soil is dry, it slowly releases stored moisture, continuously supplying it to crop roots, effectively resisting drought stress.

• Improve Soil Structure

PGA, as a high-molecular polymer, promotes the formation of soil aggregates. It binds fine soil particles together, creating more numerous and stable pores. These pores increase soil permeability and provide space for water storage. This improved soil structure prevents compaction and makes the soil more loose, which not only helps retain water but also facilitates root growth and absorption of deeper water and nutrients.

• Reduce Evaporation and Seepage

Forming an organic film on the soil surface (for example, through foliar spraying) effectively inhibits direct evaporation of soil moisture. Deeper in the soil, its lattice structure reduces the rate of water seepage, keeping it within the crop root zone for longer periods of time.

Comprehensive Agricultural Benefits of PGA Water Conservation

• Improve Water Use Efficiency

This significantly reduces the number and amount of irrigation water, achieving water-saving agriculture. This is particularly significant in arid and semi-arid regions.

• Enhance Drought Resistance

Provides continuous moisture for crops during critical growth stages (such as sowing, emergence, flowering, and fruiting), significantly improving crop survival and growth in drought conditions.

• Promote Nutrient Absorption

PGA itself retains fertilizer (also through adsorption), retaining nutrients in the root zone and slowly releasing them along with water, improving fertilizer utilization. Adequate moisture also facilitates nutrient absorption by the root system.

• Increase Yield and Improved Quality

Avoids the growth inhibition of crops caused by water stress, enabling healthy crop growth and full fruit expansion, ultimately improving yield and quality (such as sweetness and appearance).

• Improve Saline-Alkali Soil

PGA absorbs large amounts of water, diluting soil salt concentrations. Its negatively charged nature also absorbs salt ions (such as Na⁺), mitigating salt toxicity to crops and improving the growing environment for crops in saline-alkali soils.

Application Methods

• Mix with urea or a nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer.
  Addition rate: 0.3% to 0.5%. This ratio is suitable for most crops, but the specific ratio may vary depending on the crop type, growth stage, and soil conditions.
• Use alone.
  Dosage: 1.2 to 1.5 kg/hectare.
• Foliar spray.
  Preparation: Mix 3 grams of powder with 15 kilograms of water.
  Frequency: Apply 3 to 5 foliar sprays, depending on the crop’s growth cycle.

Summary

In summary, PGA’s water retention in agriculture is not a single function; rather, it is a systematic process that improves the root zone soil microenvironment through physical and chemical reactions. By absorbing, locking, and slowly releasing water, it acts like an “intelligent reservoir,” precisely supplying crops with the vital energy they need. This delivers remarkable benefits in terms of water conservation, drought resistance, increased yields, and soil improvement. It is an environmentally friendly, highly effective, and promising modern agricultural biotechnology product.

Core Aspects	Specific Mechanisms and Effects	Key Benefits
Superior Hydrophilicity and Water Retention	Hydrophilic groups such as carboxyl groups on the molecular chain strongly adsorb water molecules through hydrogen bonds, form “micro-reservoirs” that hold large amounts of water.	Drought Resistance and Water Saving: Reduce irrigation frequency and water volume, improving water use efficiency.
“Reservoir” Slow-Release Effect	Absorb and store water during rainfall/irrigation, then slowly release it to the root system during drought, ensure continuous water availability for crops.	Stable Water Supply: Resist drought stress, ensure water needs during critical growth periods, and improves survival rates.
Improve Soil Structure	Promote the formation of soil aggregates, increase soil porosity, and make the soil more porous.	Evaporation Reduction and Seepage Prevention: Inhibit evaporation and reduce deep seepage, extending water retention.
Synergic Fertilizer Retention	Absorb fertilizer nutrients, reduce loss, achieve integrated water and fertilizer slow-release, and improve fertilizer utilization.	Increase Yield and Improve Quality: Avoid water stress, promote healthy crop growth, and increase yield and fruit quality.
Improve Saline-Alkali Land	Absorb water to dilute salt concentrations and absorb salt ions (such as Na⁺), mitigate salt damage and improve the crop growing environment.	Improve Soil: Alleviate compaction and improve soil fertility, especially effective on saline-alkali land.