How materials engineers are advancing global agriculture
Even the most drought-ridden environments could see a boom in agricultural production thanks to a group of materials engineers from the University of Texas at Austin. The team recently published an article in ACS Materials Letters about its atmospheric water irrigation system. Using moisture absorbing gels in the soil to pull water from the air, this system holds water to feed plants through the roots, and releases moisture back into the air for better growing conditions.
The gel pulls water during cooler and more humid periods during the night, then holds the water as the day begins to warm up. Once the soil reaches warmer temperatures during the day, the gel releases the water both into the soil to feed the plants and into the air, making for humid conditions that help enhance the harvesting cycle. Each gram of soil containing this gel can hold approximately three to four times more water, and just one kilogram of this soil can irrigate up to one square metre of farmland. In one particular experiment, radishes grown in this soil survived upwards of two weeks without any additional watering.
This innovation could transform agriculture across the globe — and right here in Alberta where drought is a common occurrence. And it is all thanks to the knowledge and ingenuity of materials engineers. These professionals are responsible for taking a scientific approach to improving how physical objects function in real world situations. Materials engineers examine the molecular makeup of physical objects to understand how those objects relate to the larger world. Through this practice, these specialized engineers can find novel and practical approaches for solving issues, both large and small.
APEGA is proud to continue regulating all disciplines of the engineering profession in Alberta. Through nurturing these practices, new innovations can be discovered and implemented, continuously improving the world around us.