Title: Superabsorbent materials (Potassium Polyacrilate): an application for street trees

Summary: Trees planted in Mexico City suffer from water scarcity during the dry season (November to April), which is especially difficult for establishing newly planted streets and trees surrounded by concrete. When the federal government announced a huge tree planting program of 250,000 trees per year, options for improved tree survival rates were researched. A superabsorbent material, potassium polyacrilate, allows preservation of water in solid form and is capable of expanding to 200- 500 times its weight. The results of an experiment with two different types of tree seedlings: oak (Quercus rugosa) and privet (Ligustrum lucidum over a period of more than one year will be presented and analyzed.

Alicia Chacalo-Hilu, PhD, Retorno de Julieta - 11, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, DF, Mexico

Click here to read the presenters biography.