Research, testing & field evidence
The evidence behind our recommendations: how we test, what field trials show, and where independent research stands.
Agricultural field trials
Each trial will be published with its location, season, crop, soil, dose, method and measured results — including trials that showed little effect.
Trial reports are being prepared for publication
Laboratory testing & methods
Standard methods used across the SAP industry. Values on our Technical Data Sheets state which method was used.
- Free swell capacity
- Tea-bag method: a weighed sample swells freely in deionised water or 0.9% saline; absorption is reported in g/g.
- Centrifuge retention (CRC)
- The swollen sample is spun to remove loosely held liquid; retained liquid is reported in g/g.
- Absorption under load (AUL)
- The sample absorbs saline while pressed under a set weight (0.3 or 0.7 psi).
- Particle size distribution
- Sieve analysis; the share of particles in each size band is reported on the CoA.
- Moisture and pH
- Loss on drying, and pH of a 1% gel.
Water absorption test results
Absorption in deionised water, saline and representative irrigation water will be published per grade, so growers can see the effect of their own water quality.
Why absorption falls in hard and saline waterGrade-wise results to follow
Farmer & industrial case studies
Case studies are published with the customer's consent, using their own words and measurements.
No case studies published yet
Independent research & references
Peer-reviewed literature on hydrogel in agriculture is collected in the research papers library, each with a plain-language summary.
Researching hydrogel?
Universities, KVKs and research institutions can request material or propose joint trials.