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www.potatogrower.com 53 800-572-0391 potatoes.eiijd.com The Place to Go for Potato Equipment Sales Parts Service New & Used Potato Equipment All Makes and Models Contact the Experts! Travis Chlarson, Sales.....................................................509-750-4747 Gary Hoffer, Sales...........................................................509-331-6160 Parts...................................................................................800-572-0391 Blake Hatch, Integrated Solutions....................509-760-0137 (Contact Blake for Active Implement Steering for Your Potato Equipment) PO Box 548, Othello, WA 99344 Check Out Our New Facility in Pasco, WA 5802 N Industrial Way, Suite D Pasco, WA 99301 143086EveImp13.indd 1 5/30/14 11:28 AM diggin' in WATER MANAGEMENT Soaking It In Super-absorbent gel could help save water PULLMAN, Wash. — A biodegrad- able gel that can absorb more than 250 times its weight in water could potentially help growers retain mois- ture in drought-stricken fields. Developed by Washington State Uni- versity researchers led by Jinwen Zhang, the gel is similar to that used in absorbent diapers. However, the hydrogel pellets are made from biodegradable agricultural material, rather than a petroleum product. Patent Pending Zhang has applied for a patent. He is working with mOasis, Inc., a California- based company that produces other ag- ricultural hydrogels, to begin testing the product in fields. Similar hydrogels, mostly petroleum-based, are in demand in a number of industries for applications such as hygienic products, soil treatment and biomedicine. Companies have studied hydrogel po- tential for helping drought-affected farm- ers for several decades. Hydrogel pellets could help soil better retain moisture or could deliver liquid pesticides and herbi- cides for controlled application. Sustainable Alternative to Petroleum However, because they are petroleum- based, current hydrogels could also create a contamination concern. "Farmers are very cautious," Zhang says. While a few biologically based gel materials are available, they are generally used in higher value food and biomedical applications. They are also more expensive and less durable than synthetic gels. Zhang's product, which is made mostly of soy protein, is a cross-linked polymer, or a polymer with a molecular chain loosely linked in three dimensions. The ions and other water-absorbing parts in the polymer attract water and grow in weight by up to 250 times. "It's impressive," says Zhang. "That's a lot." Nitrogen Enhances Plant Growth Because the gel is bio-based, it has less environmental impact and would be more sustainable in the long term, Zhang says. No residue would be left in the soil when the gel degrades. And the soy protein could actually be a source of nitrogen that could help plants grow. A soy-based product would also lessen dependence on foreign oil imports. The U.S. produces about half of the world sup- ply of soybeans, Zhang says. The work was supported by the United Soybean Board, a U.S. Department of Ag- riculture-affiliated program that conducts research and market development related to soybean farming. PG Because the gel is bio-based, it has less environmental impact and would be more sustainable in the long term. No residue would be left in the soil when the gel degrades.