OPTIMIZING SOYBEAN PRODUCTIVITY IN RAINFED AGRICULTURE: SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF PUSA HYDROGEL AND FOLIAR NUTRIENT SPRAYS IN WATER-STRESSED ENVIRONMENTS

Water scarcity, driven by climate change and rising demand, poses a critical challenge for agriculture globally. In India, where over 60% of agricultural land relies on rainfall, erratic weather patterns like delayed monsoon onset and early cessation worsen moisture stress, particularly in rainfed areas. Addressing this challenge requires the adoption of efficient soil-moisture conservation practices that enhance water retention and sustain crop productivity. This study explores the impact of Pusa hydrogel and foliar nutrient sprays on improving soybean productivity under rainfed conditions. The study evaluated the three levels of Pusa hydrogel and five levels of foliar nutrient spray. With the application of Pusa hydrogel, the results indicated a significant improvement in crop growth and yield. The application of Pusa hydrogel at 5.0 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher plant height (115.4 cm), dry matter (55 q ha-1) and LAI at 90 DAS (6.93) followed by application of Pusa hydrogel 2.5 kg ha -1. A similar trend was observed in the yield attributes and yield with significantly higher number of pods plant-1 (22.11), number of seeds pod-1 (2.22), number of seeds plant-1 (46.7) seed yield (22.67 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.28 q ha-1) recorded under the application of Pusa hydrogel at 5.0 kg ha-1 followed by application of Pusa hydrogel 2.5 kg ha-1. Among foliar nutrient sprays, application of thiourea (500 ppm) led to significantly higher plant height (120.9 cm), dry matter accumulation (59.9 q/ha) and LAI at 90 DAS (7.61) followed by application by vermiwash (1:10). Significantly higher seed yield of 24.68 q ha-1 was observed with the application of thiourea (500 ppm) followed by vermiwash (1:10) whereas higher stover yield of 43.05 q ha-1 was observed with the application of vermiwash (1:10) which was at par with thiourea. Using Pusa hydrogel at 5.0 kg ha-1 with thiourea (500 ppm) or vermiwash (1:10) considerably improves soybean growth and yield in rainfed settings. These findings show that hydrogel and foliar nutrition sprays can reduce water stress and boost agricultural yield in water-scarce areas. These interventions should be tested in long-term field experiments to determine their sustainability, farmer profitability, and application to other crops and agro-climatic zones. Exploring hydrogel's environmental impact and modifying foliar spray compositions could improve these methods for widespread implementation. Such innovations will help address global food security issues in shifting climates.