Hypothesis

      This study hypothesizes that Sodium Alginate hydrogels will enhance drought resilience in wheat (Triticum aestivum) by improving soil moisture retention, leading to increased plant height, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, and water use efficiency (WUE) under PEG 6000-induced drought conditions. It is expected that hydrogel-treated soil will retain 30-40% more moisture than untreated soil, resulting in a 15-20% increase in plant height, a 25-30% increase in biomass, a 15-20% increase in chlorophyll content (measured as SPAD value), and a 20-25% improvement in WUE. These improvements are anticipated due to enhanced water availability, leading to better photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant growth under water-limited conditions.

Null Hypothesis (H₀):

       Sodium Alginate hydrogel application will have no significant effect on soil moisture retention, plant height, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, or water use efficiency (WUE) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under PEG 6000-induced drought conditions (p-value > 0.05).

Alternative Hypothesis (H₁):

      Sodium Alginate hydrogel application will result in statistically significant improvements in soil moisture retention (by 30-40%), plant height (by 15-20%), biomass accumulation (by 25-30%), chlorophyll content (by 15-20% as measured by SPAD value), and WUE (by 20-25%) compared to untreated control plants under PEG 6000-induced drought conditions (p-value < 0.05).

Conclusion

       The results of this study indicate that Sodium Alginate-based hydrogels significantly improved wheat drought resilience, with 1.0% hydrogel demonstrating the most favourable outcomes across all measured metrics. The final plant height was highest in the 1.0% hydrogel group (15.2 cm), followed closely by 1.5% hydrogel (15.0 cm), with both treatments outperforming the control (13.6 cm). Similarly, biomass accumulation was greatest in the 1.0% hydrogel group (5.8 g), suggesting optimal water retention and nutrient uptake. Chlorophyll content (SPAD values) declined in all treatments post-drought but remained highest in the 1.0% hydrogel group (32.1), reflecting sustained photosynthetic efficiency. Water use efficiency (WUE) was also maximized in the 1.0% hydrogel group (0.0278 cm/mL), indicating effective water retention without excessive saturation. While 1.5% hydrogel also enhanced plant growth, its performance was slightly lower than 1.0%, likely due to potential oversaturation limiting aeration. These findings suggest that moderate hydrogel concentrations, particularly 1.0%, provide an effective balance between moisture retention and plant health, making them a promising strategy for improving wheat drought resilience in water-scarce environments.

Applications

Agricultural Drought Mitigation: Sodium alginate hydrogels improve soil moisture retention, reducing drought stress in crops. This technology can enhance agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions.

Water Conservation: By optimizing water use efficiency, hydrogels reduce irrigation demands, making them valuable for sustainable farming practices, particularly in water-scarce areas.

Soil Health Improvement: Hydrogels help maintain soil structure and reduce erosion by retaining moisture, promoting better root development and nutrient uptake.

Commercial Crop Production: Integrating hydrogels into large-scale farming can increase yields, particularly for drought-sensitive crops, providing economic benefits for farmers.

Urban and Greenhouse Agriculture: Hydrogels can be applied in controlled environments, such as vertical farms and greenhouses, where efficient water management is essential for plant growth.

Alberta Wheat Production: Alberta is a major wheat-producing region, often facing water limitations due to dry conditions. Using hydrogels in wheat cultivation can enhance drought resilience, improve yields, and support sustainable farming practices across the province.

Climate Resilience: Hydrogel technology can support global efforts to adapt agriculture to changing climate conditions and ensure food security by mitigating drought impacts.

Future Plans

• Extend Study Duration: Run trials for a longer period to assess the long-term effects of hydrogels.
• Field Trials: Test hydrogels in real-world field conditions to evaluate practical use.
• Hydrogel Variations: Experiment with different concentrations and formulations for optimal results.
• Soil Types & Drought Levels: Test hydrogels in different soil types under varying drought stress conditions.
• Automation & Monitoring: Use sensors and automated systems to track moisture levels and plant health.
• Broader Crop Testing: Expand to other crops like corn and barley to assess hydrogel effectiveness.
• Cost & Sustainability Analysis: Evaluate the economic benefits and environmental impact of using hydrogels in farming.

Sources of Error

Soil Variability: Differences in soil texture and nutrients may have influenced growth. Standardizing soil composition would improve consistency.

Water Distribution: Uneven hydrogel absorption could have led to inconsistent moisture levels. Moisture sensors would help ensure uniform water availability.

Measurement Accuracy: Instrument limitations or human error may have affected readings. Regular calibration and multiple measurements would enhance precision.

Environmental Factors: Minor fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and light may have impacted results. Multi-season trials would provide stronger validation.

Hydrogel Consistency: Variations in hydrogel degradation rates could have influenced water retention. Further analysis is needed to assess long-term stability.

Mitigation Strategies: Standardized soil, automated measurements, and extended field trials would minimize these errors. Despite these factors, results confirm that sodium alginate hydrogels improve wheat growth under drought stress

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• First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my mother and brother for their unwavering support—financially, emotionally, and practically. Their guidance, time, transportation, and advice have been invaluable; this project would not have been possible without them.

• I am also grateful to my former science teacher, Mrs. Aulakh, for laying the foundation and offering the essential support that helped me bring this project to life.

• I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Webster for recommending me for the CYSF, which has been an incredible opportunity.

• Lastly, I extend my sincere appreciation to the CYSF judges, volunteers, and coordinators for organizing and supporting this city-wide fair. Without their dedication and hard work, this event would not have been possible.