[A-GE28] Subsurface Mass Transport and Environmental Assessment

[AGE28-02] Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: The Impact of Cellulose Nanofibers on Water Efficiency and Plant Development

*An Thuy Ngo^1,2, Yasushi Mori¹ (1.Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 2.An Giang University, Vietnam National University Hochiminh City)

Keywords:cellulose nanofibers, plant available water, soil moisture, deficit irrigation, plant growth, irrigation water use efficiency

Addressing water scarcity is crucial for sustainable agriculture and food security. This study explores the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as a sustainable method to enhance soil water retention and plant growth under deficit irrigation. Experiments measured the increase in Plant Available Water (PAW) with CNF in sandy and silty loam soils and examined the impact of CNF on seed germination and Spinach growth across various CNF concentrations and soil moisture levels. The introduction of CNF notably increased PAW and reduced irrigation frequency, underscoring its potential in water conservation. Furthermore, Spinach showed greater growth in CNF-amended soils, indicating that CNF can support plant development. While additional data on irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) are pending, the initial results emphasize CNF’s potential in enhancing water management practices. This research promises to provide valuable insights into efficient water use and pave the way for innovative strategies to bolster crop productivity and resilience in water-scarce regions.