Evaluation of Soil Physical Quality under Amendments and Hydrogel Applications in a Soybean–Wheat Cropping System

Abstract

A field study was conducted in alluvial sandy loam soil to assess the impact of amendments and hydrogel application on soil hydrophysical properties. Soil physical environment was characterized and quantified using soil physical quality index (S). The main treatments include farmyard manure (FYM) and tank soil applied at 5 t ha−1 and no amendment, and subtreatments included three rates of hydrogel: 5, 2.5, and 0 kg ha−1. Hydrogel was applied at 5–7 cm deep just below the seed in rows. Results revealed that FYM along with gel application at 5 kg ha−1 significantly increased mean weight diameter, field capacity moisture content, plant-available water content and relative field capacity, retention pores (Ret P), water-stable structural units, and structural coefficient and reduced transmission pores (TP), penetration resistance, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). Significantly greater values of S in hydrogel-treated plots and close associations of S with other soil physical parameters were obtained.