Author(s):

Sri Laxmi, Pukhrambam Helena Chanu, Priyanka Rani, Sumit Rai, Saroj Kumar Prasad and Rajesh Kumar Singh

Abstract: Among 181 countries of the world, India ranks 41st with regard to moisture stress. Under net cultivated area more than 60% falls under dryland condition and more than 30% of the area faces insufficient rainfall problems. To overcome this moisture stress, Hydrogel may prove as a practically convenient and ecofriendly feasible option to achieve the goal of agricultural productivity under conditions of water scarcity. Hydrogels can absorb and hold rain water and irrigation water and therefore help to reduce deep percolation by using gravitational water as well as capillary water. The main objective of this review was to study the effect of hydrogel on soil water retention characteristics and to mitigate drought and improved crop production under moisture stress condition. Application of hydrogel to soil improves growth and yield attributing characters of different field, ornamental and vegetable crops has been reported. It can be directly applied in the soil at the time of sowing of field crops and near the root zone of nursery plantation. For almost all types of crops in relation to soil type and climate of India a very low application rate of hydrogel i.e.2.5-5.0 Kg/ha is effective. They are not only used for moisture conservation, but also have enormous potential to maintain physico-chemical properties like bulk density, porosity, temperature, water holding capacity, CEC etc. and biological properties like microbial environment of the soil. Agricultural hydrogels are eco-friendly, because they are naturally degraded over a period of time, without leaving any toxic residue in the soil and plants. Hence use of hydrogel as a soil conditioner will be a productive option for increasing sustainable agricultural production in moisture-stressed environment.

Pages: 316-320  |  1922 Views  1009 Downloads

Download (493KB)