Abstract: With laboratory test and field experiment, this paper studied the water conservation performance of four types of super absorbent polymer (SAP) in deionized water and loam soil, and the effects of the type and dosage of SAP on the soil water storage and maize yield. The results showed that the water conservation performance of SAP was highly related to its type and particle size. The SAP composed of polyacrylate and with smaller particle size presented a higher water conservation capability in deionized water and loam soil, with the evaporation rate reduced to 0.76 and 0.75 times of CK. The dosage of SAP had an optimal range. Excess or scarcity would restrain the water conservation of SAP. The water conservation performance of SAP in field was affected by the water uptake by crop. Application of SAP could improve maize yield and its water use efficiency (WUE). In the test four types of SAP, starchacrylic acid graft copolymers had significant yieldincreasing effect, and HJW could increase the WUE of maize by 15.06%.

Key words: Hordeum brevisubulatum, Clone plant, Module, Productivity, Biomass, Age structure