Assessment effects of super absorbent hydro gels on corn yield (Zea mays L.) under drought stress condition

Drought stress, as one of the most important environmental stress, plays a vitalrole in reducing crop yield all around the world. Super absorbent hydro gels which absorbs high amount of water are known as compounds which can reduce detrimental impacts of drought stress. In order to investigate the effects of super absorbent hydro gels on soil condition, an experiment was conducted at the institute of higher agricultural education of natural rources, Jiroft City. Three replications were used in the experiment. Drought stress condition was applied to the main plots at three levels, irrigation of 100% of crops water requirement (no stress), 75% (mild stress) and 50% (severe stress) and super absorbent levels were applied to the sup-plots at three levels (0, 200 and 300 kg/ha). Drought stress reduced grain yield, yield components and biological yield. Yield reduction was higher at 50% crop water requirement. On the contrary, super absorbent hydro gels particularly at 300 kg/ha diminished the detrimental effects of water stress on yield. Application of super absorbents caused higher number of rows per ear only under drought stress condition. Meanwhile, grain yield, biological yield, grain weight and number of grains per row were under both stress and non-stress conditions. It was concluded that application of super absorbent hydro gels can increase yield and yield components through increasing soil water holding capability for a long time.