Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Jeevan RJ, Dr. Ananthakumar MA, Dr. Kadalli GG, Dr. Thimmegowda MN and Dr. Asha NN

Abstract:
Irrigation water scarcity is one of the major limiting factors affecting crop production. The crop productivity is limited in coarse textured soils due to poor water and nutrient holding capacity attributed to leaching of applied nutrients. Hence, the use of soil conditioners such as super absorbent polymer has a tremendous potential for maximizing the water availability. A field experiment was carried out at ZARS, V.C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka during Kharif 2019 to know the Influence of hydrogel on growth, yield and soil properties at varied moisture regimes under drip fertigation of tomato. The experiment was laid out in Factorial-RCBD comprised of two levels of irrigation at 0.6 and 1.0 IW/CPE along with 0, 3.7, 7.5 and 11.2 kg ha^-1 of Pusa gel and 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg ha^-1 of Zeba gel. Irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE recorded higher plant height (100.4 cm), number of branches per plant (14.3), number of leaves per plant (129.3), fruit yield (72.3 t ha^-1) and higher NPK use efficiency (66.4, 11 and 73.7 % respectively) as compared to Irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE. Application of Pusa gel @ 11.2 kg ha^-1 recorded higher plant height (103.8 cm), number of branches per plant (15), number of leaves per plant (135.8), fruit yield (73.3 t ha^-1) and higher NPK use efficiency (70.2, 11.8 and 76.1 % respectively) which was on par with Zeba gel @ 37.5 kg ha^-1 and significantly higher than control (H1). The maximum yield attributes, yield and benefit cost ratio was recorded with Pusa gel @ 11.2 kg ha^-1 with irrigation 1.0 IW/CPE followed by with Zeba gel @ 37.5 kg ha^-1 with 1.0 IW/CPE irrigation.