Researchers at the Technology Innovation Institute in the United Arab Emirates have successfully developed a soil additive derived from agricultural waste. This substance, referred to as agrigel, is engineered to assist crops in thriving within the country's challenging arid environment while decreasing irrigation requirements by approximately 30 percent. Greenhouse experiments demonstrate that plants cultivated with this gel exhibit accelerated growth compared to those in untreated soil. Specifically, spinach and corn samples treated with the material reached double the size of their counterparts within the same timeframe. By retaining moisture more effectively, this innovation offers a sustainable solution for local farming, as evidenced by the visible emergence of green shoots in treated pots compared to the lack of development in the control group.
Source : Khaleej Times
Photo : Khaleej Times
