Efficacy of Pusa Hydrogel and Chitosan on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Growth and Yield under Water Deficit Condition

Abstract

Rainfall and irrigation are the two main sources of water in agriculture. Although shifting in climate, results in changes in global rainfall pattern leading to unpredicted drought condition. As per "SAPCC 2014" some part of UP, especially eastern UP will face rise in temperature (3 to 5° C up to 2050) and water scarcity condition. To cope up with coming situation the experiment was conducted at Central Agricultural field, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, U.P on wheat variety (HD-2967). Pusa hydrogel and Chitosan were taken under different concentration to evaluate the effect of pusa hydrogel and chitosan on growth and yield of wheat under water deficit condition as pusa hydrogel can retain large quantity of water and chitosan can reduce transpirational loss of water. Pusa hydrogel (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) and Chitosan (100%, 75% and 50%) with twenty one treatments and three replications along with control were laid out in randomized block design. Growth and yield parameters were observed. Result on crop growth and yield under water deficit condition was observed. Treatment T9 (100% PH and 100% CHT) showed best results, however T10 was statistically at par with T9, while T11 was found non-significant with T0.