Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
depths and economics were also worked out and analyzed. The data obtained were subjected
to statistical analysis and were tested at five percent level of significance to interpret the
treatment differences as suggested by (Gomez et al., 1984). The data analysis for the
probability occurrence of 30 years rainfall in a standard week showed that there is a
possibility occurrence of getting more than 80 per cent of consecutive dry spell is laid with
45 th and 50 th standard weeks. So, to avoid stress, foliar spray has given at 45 th and 50 th
standard weeks for the years of study 2016 and 2017 based on historical rainfall probability
analysis by Markov chain method to fix foliar spray application during the experimentation
period.
Results
From the present study, it was also found that soil application PUSA hydrogel significantly
improved soil moisture availability than control. Soil application of PUSA hydrogel @ 5 kg
/ha recorded significantly higher soil moisture per cent at the depth of 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45
cm. This might be due to the fact that the application of polymers buffer root zone with water
by reducing the water loss from deep percolation and beneficial to the plant roots to grow and
proliferate into soil profile and helps for sustaining crop growth and development.
Application of hydrogel improves water retention capacity of soils and available water
supplies to the crop. Water absorption by hydrogel was rapid and highest which increased the
moisture retention linearly. Hence, the polymer allows water to infiltrate into the soil beyond
its point of application. More soil moisture was retained under soil application of PUSA
hydrogel @ 5 kg /ha upto 60 DAS. After that soil moisture content was gradually decreasing,
due to absorption of moisture by the crops from hydrogel polymer. The super-absorbent
polymers (SAPs) have special properties because of their three-dimensional structure. They
are cross-linked macromolecules with segments of hydrophilic groups that can absorb and
retain liquids and the absorbed water and release it slowly. These stored water in the SAPs
are released slowly as required by the crop to improve growth under limited water supply.
Yield is contributed by different yield components and any influence made by extraneous
factor, will alter the yield significantly. In the present study, increased seed cotton yield could
be attributed to better crop growth and yield components due to consistent soil moisture
availability due to combined influence of BBF, soil conditioner and foliar application of
PPFM. The broad bed furrow system significantly influenced the seed cotton yield as
compared to other land configuration. BBF recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield of
1,246 (2016) and 1,590 kg /ha (2017) which was 23 per cent (2016) and 19 per cent (2017)
higher as compared to compartmental bunding. Increment in seed cotton yield was due to
more soil moisture availability at the root zone which favoured better crop growth. This
coupled with higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rate resulted accumulation of
more dry matter and yield components and ultimately the seed cotton yield. Higher seed
Climate resilient agriculture for risk mitigation
297 | Page