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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

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Subject: Agricultural Meteorology × End date: 2023 × Start date: 2022 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of hydrogel on soil moisture retention and release pattern in acid-alfisoil under okra cultivation
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2022) Kujur, Abha Nutan; Wadood, A.
    Jharkhand climate, with respect to temperature and humidity, is very congenial for vegetable cultivation. However, water holding capacity of soils is very less (22% FC and 8-10% WP). Various kinds of vegetables are being grown, in small areas, mostly in upland Barilands where limited assured irrigation facility is available from wells and small ponds, etc. both in Kharif as well as rabi seasons and some vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage are grown around the year. The total area under vegetable cultivation (both in Kharif and Rabi) in Jharkhand is about 2.9 L. ha with a total production of 34.6 lakh metric tonnes (agricoop.gov.in). Lack of irrigation facility is the biggest constraint for vegetable cultivation in Jharkhand. In view of this situation pot as well as field experiments were conducted in Ranchi with a broad objective to assess the impact of different levels of Pusa and SPG hydrogels on soil moisture retention and release pattern and on overall performance of Okra crop. Among the different levels of Pusa hydrogel in pot experiment (TI 5 g gel/pot, T2 10 g gel/pot and T3 20 g gel/pot), the average soil moisture retention during the crop period of Okra was recorded highest inT3 (26.5%) followed by T2 (25.5%) and TI (24.4%) with advantages of 72.4, 66.0 and 58.9 percents over control (no gel). respectively. Okra crop under all the levels of Pusa hydrogel were found comfortable with negative values of Stress Degree Days while the crop under control (no gel) remained stressed with positive values of SDD throughout the crop period. The extents of comfort (-ve SDD) were the true reflections of moisture levels maintained. Accordingly, the performances of okra crop under these 3 levels of pusa hydrogel application were also in the same trend and the highest pod yield of 42.2 g per pot was obtained under T3 (20 g Pusa hydrogel/pot). In field experiment also. 13 performed best in terms of soil moisture retention, SDD and okra pod yield but the effects of levels of Pusa hydrogel were much less pronounced in field experiment as compared the corresponding levels in pot experiment In case of SPG hydrogel, different levels of it in pot experiment (T4 5 g gel/pot. T5 15 g gel/pot and T6 20 g gel/pot), the average soil moisture retention during the crop period of Okra was recorded highest inT6 (28.0%) followed by T5 (27.4%) and T4 (26.5%) with advantages of 82.5, 78.3 and 75.4 percents over control (nogel), respectively. The comfort levels (-ve SDD) of crop was even better in case of SPG hydrogel following the same trend as in case of Pusa hydrogel The highest okra pod yield of 65.8 g per pot under T6 (20 g SPG hydrogel per pot). In field experiment also, 16 performed best in terms of soil moisture retention, SDD and okra pod yield but the effects of levels of SPG hydrogel were also found much less pronounced in field experiment as compared the corresponding levels in pot experiment. SPG hydrogel performed better than Pusa hydrogel in terms of soil moisture, SDD and okra pod yield both in Pal and Field experiments. Incorporation of Pusa as well as SPG Hydrogels into the soil increased the ability of soil to hold and retain more moisture with steady and gradual release of soil moisture requiring less and less frequent watering as compared to untreated soils. This advantage increased with higher levels of gel incorporation. The impact of both the hydrogels were found more pronounced in Pot cultivation of Okna than Field caltivation. SPG hydrogel was found more effective than Pusa hydrogel. Inter difference in moisture retention am the levels of both the hydrogels remained within 1-2 percent only. Hence, the lowest level of 5 gel/por or 5 Kg gel ha" too, could be much more advantageous over no gel incorporation.