Impact of hydrogel on wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) in sandy soils under limited irrigation conditions

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.