Impact of Vermi-compost and Hydrogel (Pusa) on Soil Dynamics, Nutrient Uptake & Water Productivity of Wheat Crop

A field experiment was conducted during winter (Rabi) season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Crop Research Centre of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India to study the Impact of different irrigation levels and moisture conservation practices on wheat crop. Three irrigation levels were three viz., I1 (at CRI stage), I2 (at CRI, Booting and Milking) and I3 (at CRI, Late tillering, Late jointing, Flowering and Milking stage) and moisture conservation practices (Application of pusa hydrogel @ 5 kg/ha, Vermi-compost @ 1t/ha, pusa hydrogel @ 5 kg/ha + Vermicompost @ 1t/ha and no application) were tested in split plot design (SPD) with three replications. Results revealed that the highest total nitrogen (105.22 and 97.48 kg/ha), phosphorus (23.05 and 20.94 kg/ha) and potassium (141.96 and 138.41 kg/ha) uptake was recorded with five irrigations followed by three irrigations during first and second years, respectively. Besides, this treatment also gave highest nutrient uptake by crop along with maintaining the soil fertility and moisture status. Thus, in wheat application of 5 kg pusa hydrogel+1t Vermi-compost/ha with five irrigations seems to more effective in the sandy loam soils of North Western Plain Zones of Western Uttar Pradesh.