IMPACT OF CELLULOSE-BASED HYDROGEL INCORPORATED MEDIA ON

TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE

Hafiz-Afham Khaini1,2, Nor’aishah Hassan1,3* , Norrizah Jaafar Sidek2, Mohd Rafii Yusop4
Email: aishahnh@uitm.edu.my

1
School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Negeri
Sembilan Kampus Kuala Pilah, 72000, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Biotechnology, Microbiology and Environmental Collaborative Science, Universiti Teknologi
MARA, Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Kuala Pilah, 72000, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
4
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor

Abstract: In order to improve water efficiency and food security on high value vegetables, a study was conducted
to evaluate the impact of cellulose-based hydrogel incorporated with topsoil as media on tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth and yield performance. A total of 24 treatments were observed for
plant height, stem girth, leaf number, leaf area index (LAI), fruit number, fruit weight, yield per plant
and plant dry weight, where H0W0 is controlled. The treatment schedule was established using a
random complete block design. Treatment H3W1, with 60% hydrogel and 2-days watering interval
recorded the highest mean value for LAI (4.95 ± 0.18 m 2m-2), and yield per plant (1.05 ± 0.30 kg plant -
1
) compared to control treatment. Thus, optimum formulation within hydrogel volume and watering
interval are important to achieve optimum growth and yield since there is positive correlation within the
parameter where height (0.8207), stem girth (0.8632) and LAI (0.7776) to the plant yield.

Keywords: cellulose hydrogel, polymer, tomato growth, vegetable, water efficiency, yield

INTRODUCTION
Urban agriculture utilizes more than 70% of freshwater in most nation, and by 2030, water demand is
expected to rise by 50%, causing shortages in urban areas (Islam & Karim, 2019). Hydrogel has
capacity to absorb water up to 400 times its own weight and subsequently release it in slow manner.
The incorporated of hydrogel and topsoil has the potential to enhance plant survival rate as well as in
order to reduce irrigation requirements and maintain optimal plant performance in urban agriculture,
particularly under drought, while improving water usage efficiency (Abobatta, 2018). Hydrogel is three-
dimensional networks of loosely held cross-linked flexible hydrophilic macromolecules coupled by
covalent bonds or physical interactions with particularly engineered absorbency and biodegradability
(El Idrissi et al., 2023) which can derived from cotton to form cellulose-based hydrogel, possessed
several advantages such as high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability and eco-
friendly (Zainal et al., 2021). This material is organic polymers and have the unique ability to absorb a
large amount of moisture in their super-absorbent structure as water freely available. Hydrogel act as
soil conditioner that increase soil permeability, density and structure, decreasing water runoff and
maximizing crop yield (Oladosu et al., 2022). As the soil dries, the water that has been held by hydrogel
is released gradually through a diffusion process, allowing the substrate or soil to survive longer.
Tomato, or Solanum lycopersicum L., is the second most important vegetable in the world and has the
largest area under cultivation of any vegetable (Sahmat et al., 2022). The presence of water scarcity can
exert notable impacts on tomato production, such in the event that the equivalent quantity concurrently
diminishes irrigation, the yields could potentially experience a decline of up to 50% (Kazimi & Saxena,
2023). Therefore, this study conducted to identify the impact of cellulose-based hydrogel incorporated
with topsoil on tomato plant.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to evaluate the treatment of cellulose-based hydrogel incorporated with topsoil on
tomato. The research explores the potential of hydrogel as a cost-effective and environmentally
friendly composite for mitigating the negative effects of water scarcity on tomato plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experiment was conducted at Glasshouse, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, and
Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The cellulose-based hydrogel was produced
at the Cellulose Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM) as per Zainal et al., 2021. Hydrogel incorporated media cultivation was used for all treatments
(Table 1), and the results were analysed at the Laboratory of Microbiology, Universiti Teknologi
MARA, Cawangan Negeri Sembilan.
Tomato seedling Solanum lycopersicum L. with six leaves and 10 cm height were selected and
transplanted into polybags 20 x 20 cm filled with cellulose-hydrogel incorporated with different
volumes (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) incorporated with soil accordingly to 100% of 6 litre
media treated with the manipulated watering interval where every 1-day followed by every 2-days,
every 4-days and every 6-days interval resulting 24 treatments where treatment H0W0 has no hydrogel
and watered daily as control. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications were
applied. All treatment received one tablespoon NPK fertilizer 15:15:15 weekly. Growth-yield parameter
were analyse by mean comparison, analysis of variance (ANOVA) of different treatment and
correlation within the parameters were identified.

Table 1: Treatment according to hydrogel volume and watering interval.

Hydrogel
Watering 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1-day H0W0* H1W0 H2W0 H3W0 H4W0 H5W0
2-days H0W1 H1W1 H2W1 H3W1 H4W1 H5W1
4-days H0W2 H1W2 H2W2 H3W2 H4W2 H5W2
6-days H0W3 H1W3 H2W3 H3W3 H4W3 H5W3
Notes: H0 (100%soil), H1 (20%hydrogel+80%soil), H2 (40%hydrogel+60%soil), H3 (60%hydrogel+40%soil), H4 (80%hydrogel+20%soil),
H5(100%hydrogel), W0 (watered every day), W1 (water every 2-days), W2 (watered every 3-days), W3 (watered every 6-days). *control.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study found that tomato treated with cellulose-based hydrogel increased significantly in
all parameter as compared to control that not receiving hydrogel as media. Tomato plant that
cultivated 20% and lower hydrogel recorded lower mean value compared to plant that
cultivated with 40%, 60% and 80% hydrogel. The ANOVA of mean parameter also shows a
significant different between treatment which suggest the impact of hydrogel and water interval
treatment gave impacts to tomato growth-yield performance.
The impact of hydrogel and watering interval treatment on tomato height is shown in
Figure 1(a). The highest plant height (cm) was in H2W2, 163.00 ± 12.28 followed by H3W1,
155.67 ± 5.51 compared to control, which is only 120.67 ± 3.05. There is a significant
difference of height between the all treatment where p<0.05. This suggested that the use of
hydrogel and proper watering intervals has significant impact on tomato growth especially in
promoting plant height, matched with another finding by (Sultana et al., 2023) where tomato
height increased as superabsorbent hydrogel introduced.
Tomato stem girth is an essential factor that reflects plant growth, nutrient uptake and
response to various treatments. In figure 1(b), the highest mean diameter of stem girth (cm)
recorded by plant in H3W1, 1.71 ± 0.02 followed by H3W2, 1.51 ± 0.09 which were higher
compared to control, 0.86 ± 0.04. The mean girth increase as the hydrogel volume increased
where the 60% hydrogel group has highest mean 1.21 ± 0.45 compared to plant that not treated
with hydrogel. This infer that hydrogel and watering formulation altered stem girth as there is a
significant difference portrayed by plant receiving different treatment with p<0.05. This
supported by (Kasimu et al., 2022) found the positive impact on the girth mean diameter as the
dose of the hydrogel was increased.
 a. b.

Figure 1: Impact of cellulose-based hydrogel treatment on

tomato where a) plant height (cm) and b) stem girth (cm)

The number of leaves on tomato plants indicates growth and development. Several
studies have shown that leaf quantity is an important indicator of tomato plant physiological
and morphological traits. Figure 2 (a) shows mean leaf number observed in tomato plant
treated with cellulose-based hydrogel where H3W1 is highest with 20.33 ± 1.53 leave,
followed by H2W2, 20.00 ± 2.03 and H3W2, 17.67 ± 0.58. All these three treatments were
recorded higher than control, 14.33 ± 2.08 leaves. The significant p<0.05 of leaf number hints
there is significant impact of hydrogel and water interval on leaf quantity. Some study also
indicating the potential influence of hydrogel on leaf development in tomato plants (Melo et
al., 2019) and Parvin et al. (2019), suggested hydrogel mitigating stress-induced effects on leaf
development by reducing salt stress resulting increase in leaf number.
The leaf area index (LAI) is a critical factor in the growth and yield of tomato plants.
Several studies have demonstrated the significant correlation between LAI and crop growth,
light interception and yield (Shafian et al., 2018; Muntean et al., 2021; Saito et al., 2020). In
this study, treatment H3W1 also has highest mean value, 4.95 ± 0.18 m 2m-2 compared to
control H0W0, H0W1, H0W2 and H0W3 which not treated with hydrogel. The p<0.05
indicates that there are significant differences between at least two of the treatments. This infer
LAI of tomato influenced by the hydrogel treatment. It was reported by Kinoshita et al. (2014)
that yield maximized at LAI ~3 m 2m-2 in soilless tomato culture. Rinaldi & He, (2013),
explained LAI led to significant improvement in tomato yield projection. Thus, it is important
to obtained higher LAI to enhanced tomato yield.

a. b.

Figure 2: Impact of cellulose-based hydrogel treatment on tomato where a) leaf number and b) Leaf Area Index (m 2m-2)
 Figure 3 shown the impact of cellulose-based hydrogel treatment on tomato plant
specifically on a) fruit number and b) weight. Tomato plant treated with H3W1, has highest
mean of fruit number per plant, 32.33 ± 5.13 followed by H2W2, H3W2 and H2W1. All these
treatments has higher fruit number compared to control, 22.33 ± 2.31. There is significant
difference between mean value from different group treatment p<0.05 indicates that the
observed differences are not due to random chance. Thus, suggested the optimum formulation
of hydrogel volume paired sufficient watering interval influenced tomato yield by increase the
fruit number. Mahgoub (2020) demonstrated that the use of hydrogel application significantly
increased the number of fruits per plant. These supported by Ahmed & Fahmy (2019), Sultana
et al. (2016) who found water absorbent hydrogel improve plant yield which may due to the
availability of water and diluted fertilizer in the root zone, that allow the plant to absorbs more
nutrients and increasing production.
Treatment H3W1 also has highest in fruit weight (g) per plant, 96.85 ± 8.43 followed
by treatment H2W2 and H3W3. All these treatment were higher compared to control. There is
significant difference between treatment group on fruit weight, p<0.05 which signify fruit
weight of tomato plant affected by hydrogel. Ahmed et al. (2023) demonstrated that hydrogel
polymers promote plant growth by increasing soil water holding capacity, decreasing fruit drop
ratio, which may potentially increasing yield and fruit weight under various conditions. Thus,
the application of hydrogel polymers, including cellulose-based hydrogels may positively
impact tomato yield as long as the sufficient water supplied.

a. b.

Figure 3: Impact of cellulose-based hydrogel treatment on tomato where a) fruit number and b) fruit weight (g)

Figure 4 (a) shown the mean of yield (kg) per plant as H3W1 is the highest, 1.05 ± 0.30
followed by H2W2, 0.93 ± 0.10 and H3W2, 0.72 ± 0.32 against control, 0.53 ± 0.02. These
infer the ability of hydrogel to improve tomato yield per plant as there significant difference
(p<0.05) of mean between the treatments. Demitri et al. (2013) suggested cellulose-based
hydrogel improved plant growth and yield, including tomato plants with sustained release of
water and nutrients to plant roots area. However, the treatment H5W0, with 100% hydrogel
recorded no yield as the plant failed to survive and produce flower. This may due to the flood
stress as the root were immersed in moist condition and watered every day. Ezin et al. (2010)
found that flooding stress reduces tomato fruit output. Thus, to maximise yield and avoid flood
stress, hydrogel volume and watering interval must be optimised.
 The dry weight of tomato plants is a critical factor in determining plant health and
productivity. In figure 4 (b), the plant dry weight (g) meanwhile, has mean value of control,
0.99 ± 0.03 which lower compared to treatment H3W1 (1.52 ± 0.05), H2W2 (1.47 ± 0.08),
H3W2 (1.30 ± 0.08) and H2W1 (1.21 ± 0.02). This indicate hydrogel able to facilitated tomato
plant to keep the moisture content which increased plant dry weight where the significant
difference (p-value= 1.07337e-20). This result in agreement with El-Hady et al. (2012) who
found that adding hydrogel as a conditioner to organic compost in soil improved water and
nutrient use efficiency for tomato plants.

a. b.

Figure 4: Impact of cellulose-based hydrogel treatment on

tomato where a) yield (g) per plant and b) dry weight (g)

Based on mean comparison in this study, it can be determine that treatment H3W1 with
60% cellulose-based hydrogel incorporated media paired with 2-days watering interval is the
most optimum formulation to improved tomato growth-yield performance as well as improve
water efficiency by reducing watering frequency. This formulation recorded highest mean in
growth parameter (stem girth, leaf number and LAI) and yield parameter (fruit number, fruit
weight and yield per plant). This suggest that there is correlation relation between growth and
yield performance. The correlation coefficients provided in the matrix (Table 2) represent the
degree of linear relationship between different parameters. The plant yield has strong
correlation with height (0.8027), stem girth (0.8632), LAI (0.7763), and fruit number (0.9305)
where the increase of these parameter will directly increase the yield per plant.
Ohashi et al. (2020) observed a strong correlation between leaf area, LAI and plant
height, indicating their influence on plant growth and development. Vasileva et al. (2021)
found a positive correlation between LAI and tomato fruit yield. Dannehl et al. (2021) reported
that tomato plants grown under specific lighting conditions were significantly taller and
produced a higher fruit yield which correlating plant height and diameter. Thus, there is
correlation of tomato plant height, stem girth, and LAI in improving plant yield. These factors
are interconnected and collectively contribute to the overall productivity of tomato plants.
Therefore, optimizing these growth parameters through appropriate management practices can
lead to enhanced tomato yield.

Table 2. Correlation matrix among growth-yield parameter on tomato plant.

Variables H SG LN LAI FN FW PY PDW
H 1 . . . . . . .
SG 0.8743* 1 . . . . . .
LN 0.4549 0.4848 1 . . . . .
LAI 0.7679* 0.7928* 0.7275* 1 . . . .
 FN 0.8649* 0.8553* 0.4391 0.7322* 1 . . .
FW 0.6011* 0.6108* 0.4703 0.6376* 0.6563* 1 . .
PY 0.8027* 0.8632* 0.4745 0.7763* 0.9305* 0.7164* 1 .
PDW 0.8723* 0.8358* 0.4859 0.8106* 0.9005* 0.6904* 0.8608* 1
Notes: H = plant height, SG = stem girth, LN = leaf number, LAI = lead area index, FN = fruit number, FW = fruit weight, PY = plant yield and PDW =
plant dry weight. *strong correlation.

CONCLUSION
Findings in this study reveals that there is a significant effect of cellulose-based hydrogel in
tomato plant growth and yield. Treatment with H3W1 recorded the best treatment which gives
high plant height, stem girth, leaf number, leaf area index (LAI), fruit number, fruit weight,
yield per plant, and plant dry weight. Correlation analysis reveal that height, stem girth, LAI,
and fruit number recorded a positive correlation with yield per plant. Future study on
physiological and molecular processes underlying is recommended for better understanding on
cellulose-based hydrogel impact.

ACKNOWLEGMENT
This research study was funded through Long-Term Research Grant Scheme
(LRGS/1/2019/UKM/01/5/4). Author gratefully acknowledges the Institute of Tropical
Agriculture and Food Security, (ITAFoS, UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for the facilities and assistance provided.

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