Effect of Different Levels of Pusa Hydrogel on Soil Moisture Retention in Different Soil of Ranchi Region under Polyhouse Condition

Abstract

The pot experiment was conducted under polyhouse conditions during 2019 in Kharif season (August- December) in the Department of Agrometeorology and Environmental Science, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India using Factorial Complete Randomized Design. The treatments consists three levels of Pusa hydrogel (5 g, 10 g, and 20 g) with three replications in upland, upper medium land and lower medium land soil. This study was carried out with specific objectives of the influence of Pusa hydrogel-induced varying soil moistures on the performance of the okra crop. Results revealed that the treatment T3 (20 g of Pusa hydrogel) recorded significantly high soil moisture content compared to all other treatments. It recorded the highest  average soil moisture content (25.1% in upland,26.8% in upper midland, and 27.5% in lower midland soil) while the control i.e. without hydrogel (T7) recorded the least soil moisture content as 14.96% in upland, 15.55%. in upper midland and 15.57% in lower midland soil.