Agriculture, a vital element of human survival, confronts challenges of meeting rising demand due to population growth and product availability in developing nations. Reliance on pesticides and fertilizers strains natural resources, leading to soil degradation and water scarcity. Addressing these issues necessitates enhancing water efficiency in agriculture. Polymeric hydrogels, with their unique water retention and nutrient-release capabilities, offer promising solutions. These superabsorbent materials form three-dimensional networks retaining substantial amounts of water. Their physicochemical properties suit various applications, including agriculture. Production involves methods like bulk, solution, and suspension polymerization, with cross-linking, essential for hydrogels, achieved through physical or chemical means, each with different advantages. Grafting techniques incorporate functional groups into matrices, while radiation synthesis offers purity and reduced toxicity. Hydrogels provide versatile solutions to tackle water scarcity and soil degradation in agriculture. Recent research explores hydrogel formulations for optimal agricultural performance, enhancing soil water retention and plant growth. This review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of hydrogel technologies as adaptable solutions addressing water scarcity and soil degradation challenges in agriculture, with ongoing research refining hydrogel formulations for optimal agricultural use.

Pigs can experience stressful moments during handling practices before arrival at the slaughter location, so adequate handling plays a crucial role in pig response to preslaughter stress. This work presents preliminary mechanical analysis and materials selection of a scissor lift system with the purpose of loading and unloading pigs for transport. The scissor lift offers a simple design and is frequently used as a lifting mechanism in the automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and transportation industries due to its flexibility to adapt to different uses. The design and mechanical analysis of the proposed scissor lift mechanism were performed to carry pigs ranging from 80 to 180 kg with a working height from 1 to 1.2 m to meet the first-floor height of traditional trucks. The model and the components of the system were dimensioned to ensure the well-being of the animals, avoid injuries, and reduce the stress that negatively affects meat quality. The structural analysis of the system was developed through classical analytical calculations in association with materials selection. The proposed design is apt to load and unload pigs safely and be used with different types of trucks.