The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Mar 2019)

Effect of irrigation levels and moisture conserving polymers on growth, productivity and profitability of wheat

  • SUDESH KUMAR,
  • P K SHARMA,
  • M R YADAV,
  • RANI SEXENA,
  • K C GUPTA,
  • RAKESH KUMAR,
  • N K GARG,
  • H L YADAV

DOI
https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v89i3.87597
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 89, no. 3

Abstract

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The present field investigation was carried out during winter season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur to evaluate the effect of different irrigation levels and moisture conserving polymers on performance of wheat. Results revealed that application of six irrigations resulted in significantly maximum plant height (at harvest) and dry matter at 60, 90 DAS and harvest. The application of six irrigations enhanced the CGR by the magnitude of 55.97, 23.36 and 27.55% (30-60 DAS), 42.87, 20.38 and 20.70% (60-90 DAS) and 71.09, 48.00 and 49.53% (90 DAS-at harvest) over control, three irrigations (at fixed interval) and three irrigations (at critical stages), respectively. The application of Pusa hydrogel resulted in significantly increased plant height, dry matter accumulation and CGR during all the growth stages.The maximum number of earheads (375.78/ m2), spike length (10.82 cm), number of grains/ear (30.84) and test weight (40.95 g) were registered with application of six irrigations. Pusa hydrogel improved the effective tillers by 3.61-7.31% and spike length by 8.20-15.70% over control and Herbal hydrogel. The mean maximum grain (4.74 t/ha), straw (5.73 t/ha) and biological yield (10.47 t/ha) were recorded with application of six irrigations. Pusa and Herbal hydrogel enhanced the mean grain, straw and biological yield of wheat by 6.65-13.69%, 6.90-14.41% and 6.79-14.09%, respectively. The application of six irrigations increased gross and net returns by magnitude of 64.14, 31.35 and 33.28% and 83.35, 42.25 and 44.98% over control, three irrigation (at fixed interval) and three irrigation (at critical stages), respectively. The highest gross returns (` 76924/ha) net returns (` 45548/ha) were recorded with application of Pusa hydrogel. Therefore, application of Pusa hydrogel provided additional net returns of ` 5689/ha to the farmers over control. The application of Pusa hydrogel and six irrigations to wheat using sprinkler system can be advocated as sustainable strategy for enhancing productivity and profitability of wheat cultivation in semi-arid condition.

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