Impact of hydrogel on wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) in sandy soils under limited irrigation conditions Kumar Vinod1,*, Ahlawat K.S.2, Amarjeet3, Kumar Sanjay4 1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Faridabad-121002 2Department of Agro Forestry, CCSHAU, Hisar-125004 3Regional Research Station, Bawal-125004 4Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kaithal-136027 *E-mail: vndmohan@gmail.com
Online Published on 30 July, 2022. Abstract An experiment on impact of hydrogel on wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) in sandy soils under limited irrigation conditions was conducted through on farm trials on farmers field in Bhiwani district of Haryana during 2013-14 and 2014-15. In Bhiwani, wheat was grown on an area of about one lakh ha during rabi season. Sixty per cent soils of the district are sandy in texture with poor water retention capacity. The trial consisted of three treatments viz., normal irrigation (six irrigations), limited irrigations (four) and hydrogel application with limited irrigations (four). Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha−1 was applied during the experiment. Hydrogel with limited irrigations (four) fetched higher average grain yield (4980 kg ha−1) and net returns (Rs. 39995 ha−1) than normal irrigations (4730 kg ha−1 and Rs. 36680 ha−1) and was followed by limited irrigations (4530 kg ha−1 and Rs. 32600 ha−1). The use of hydrogel resulted into saving of two irrigations as compared to normal irrigations under sandy soil conditions. Top Keywords Wheat, Hydrogel, Limited irrigation, Yield, Water saving. Top |