2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 3

author(s)
P Harshita Mala, KG Banuprakash, KS Vinoda, Fatima Sadatulla and DC Hanumanthappa

abstract
A field experiment was carried out to study the efficacy of hydrogels under sensor-based irrigation on nutrient status of tree mulberry leaves during 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatment combinations and three replications, observations were recorded at 45^th Days After Pruning (DAP). The hydrogels were applied during beginning of first crop and pooled data of five crops were analysed. Main plot include two different types of hydrogels viz., Pusa hydrogel (T₁- Pusa hydrogel @ 1 kg/ac, T₂- Pusa hydrogel @ 2 kg/ac, T₃- Pusa hydrogel @ 3 kg/ac and T₄- Pusa hydrogel @ 4 kg/ac) and Zeba hydrogel (T₅- Zeba hydrogel @ 3 kg/ac, T₆- Zeba hydrogel @ 4 kg/ac, T₇- Zeba hydrogel @ 5 kg/ac, and T₈- Zeba hydrogel @ 6 kg/ac) and T₉-control without hydrogel. The major nutrients viz., Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (3.25, 0.35 and 1.85%, respectively) and secondary nutrients viz., Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur (0.68, 0.47 and 0.32%, respectively) have recorded significantly on the application of Zeba hydrogel @ 6 kg/ac. The micronutrient content was significantly higher in mulberry leaves collected from T₈ which received Zeba hydrogel @ 6 kg/ac with Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn of 41.82, 242.62, 28.87 and 186.03 mg/kg, respectively.