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Polymer Power: Biodegradable Hydrogels In Sustainable Farming

CSEF · 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Junior Division)

Ryan Chaudhry

Overview

Saving water can give us long-term food security, we can help others who need it more than us, and we can donate to other people who need electricity. The average farm uses about 1,000 to 7,000 gallons of water per acre (Learning Center). A drought could have devastating effects on agriculture and the people who rely on that food source. Also, reducing water usage overall would leave water for other communities to use. We rely on water for everything from cleaning to showering and even eating (Heggie, 2020). Currently, we are running out of water in America, and, in the next 50 years, about one-third of America's freshwater supply will be depleted (Heggie, 2020). To test one way of saving water, I will use biodegradable hydrogels in soil to find out if we can reduce how much water is used by agriculture. Hydrogels are 3D molecules that absorb and hold a lot of water, sometimes hundreds of times their own weight. (Science Direct). “A biodegradable hydrogel saves agricultural water by absorbing and retaining large volumes of water from irrigation or rainwater, and gradually releasing it to plant roots. This reduces the need for frequent watering, minimizes evaporation, and prevents water runoff” (Agbna, 2025). Also, since it’s biodegradable, it will break down into safe molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane. This prevents pollution.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Junior Division) · Entry J-08-20

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