Evaluation of different doses of Pusa hydrogel for higher productivity of wheat in Bihar

Evaluation of Pusa Hydrogel

Abstract

Water is considered as one of the most crucial inputs for agricultural production. Moisture stress at critical stages of growth badly hampers the yield in wheat. Pusa hydrogel (supper absorbent polymer: coated carboxymethyl cellulose) can maintain the optimum moisture level in the root zone and prevent the crop from
moisture stress. A trial was conducted during Rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17 to evaluate the appropriate dose of it for getting a better yield of wheat in Bihar (Rohtas district), having three doses (0, 2.5 and 5.0 kg/ha hydrogel). The dose of 2.5 kg/ ha hydrogel recorded the highest estimates for all the traits under the studies, namely, grain yield (6120 kg/ha), biological yield (12356 kg/ha), spikes/m2 (225.25), grains/ear (65.21), test weight (37.69 g) and harvest index (49.59 %). Spikes/ m2 and test weight having, significantly superior scores over the
control, seems to be the reasons behind the increase in grain yield due to the application of hydrogel. The economic analysis of the findings reflected that the highest B:C ratio (3.43) was recorded in T2 (2.5 kg/ha hydrogel) , followed by T1 (0 kg/ha hydrogel) (3.39) and T3 (5 kg/ha hydrogel) (3.04) which are about at par with each other. The high cost of the hydrogel may be a reason behind this, nullifying the benefit due to the increase in yield.

Keywords: Hydrogel, wheat, moisture stress, water stress