Effect of irrigation and hydrogel levels on yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of irrigation and hydrogel levels on the yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during rabi, 2024-25 at the instructional farm of Dr. Sharadchandra Pawar College of Agriculture, Baramati, Maharashtra, India. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with 4 irrigation levels (CRI, tillering, flowering and milking stage) and 4 hydrogel levels (control, hydrogel application at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg ha-1). Results revealed that among irrigation levels three irrigations at CRI, tillering and flowering stage to wheat crop recorded significantly higher number of spike m-2 (327.62), length of spike (9.23 cm), weight of grains spike-1 (1.73 g), grain yield (36.03), straw yield (48.07), biological yield (84.09) and harvest index (43.90) with significantly highest gross monetary returns (₹135700.50 ha⁻¹), net monetary returns (₹49323.50 ha⁻¹) and B: C ratio (1.57) as compared to all other treatments. Among hydrogel levels, hydrogel application @ 5 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher number of spike m-2 (327.62), weight of grains spike-1 (1.73 g), grain yield (36.03), straw yield (48.07), biological yield (84.09) and harvest index (43.90) with significantly highest gross monetary returns (₹136067 ha⁻¹), net monetary returns (₹47914.50 ha⁻¹) and B: C ratio (1.54).