Hydrogels having a porosity of at least about 5%, comprising a first polymeric material comprising a polymer derived from a monomer with a vinyl functionality, and a second polymeric material having a polyglycol other than polyethylene glycol are described. A method of forming a porous hydrogel, by mixing in a reaction vessel, a mixture comprising a monomer having a vinyl functionality, a crosslinker, an organic solvent, a first polymeric material comprising polyacrylic acid and a second polymeric material comprising a polyglycol other than polyethylene glycol, and mixing the mixture to form the hydrogel having a porosity of at least about 5%. Also described are an agricultural method and a system (a seed in a seed container).
