Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications: From Soil Amendment to Crop Enhancement

作者：L.L. Wang, Jihang Hu, Liyun Wang, Xiaobo Xue, Panrong Guo, Youming Dong, Fei Xiao, Cheng Li, Limin Guo · 发表于：Gels · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.3390/gels12050413 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements、Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications、Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications

Hydrogels (HGs), three-dimensional cross-linked hydrophilic polymer networks, have emerged as a promising class of functional materials for sustainable agriculture due to their exceptional water retention capacity, responsiveness to environmental stimuli, and favorable biocompatibility. This review systematically summarizes the key functional properties of hydrogels and critically examines their multidimensional roles within agricultural systems. The major synergistic benefits of hydrogels are highlighted, including (1) improvement of soil physical structure, chemical properties, and the biological microenvironment, thereby facilitating soil remediation; (2) direct enhancement of seed germination, root development, and crop productivity when employed as soil amendments or seed-coating materials; (3) controlled and sustained release of water, nutrients (N, P, K, and trace elements), and pesticides, leading to significant improvements in resource use efficiency; (4) functional delivery of beneficial microorganisms, enabling precise regulation of their activity and efficacy; and (5) advancement of soilless cultivation technologies through the development of sophisticated hydrogel-based substrates. Furthermore, this review discusses the key challenges that currently limit large-scale agricultural implementation, including insufficient biodegradability, potential ecotoxicological risks, and techno-economic constraints. Finally, future research directions are proposed from an inter...