Abstract: Soil/seed hydrophilization polymers comprising: monomer Ab comprising at least one betaine group or at least one cationic group; and optionally, monomer Ba comprising at least one non-ionic group or at least one anionic group, wherein the polymer is water-soluble or water-dispersible; and provided that if the monomer Ab comprises a cationic group, the monomer Ba must be present and comprise an anionic group. Also disclosed are methods for treating soil comprising contacting the hydrophilization polymer with the soil, with improvements including increase in hydrophilicity of the soil, increase in root characteristics, increase in germination rates, as compared to soil without the hydrophilization polymer.