Iari hydrogel

Can you please give me some details about the Pusa Hydrogel of Indian Agricultural Research Institute? What is the purpose of this and is it useful? Provide me its complete detailed information about the Pusa Hydrogel of Indian Agricultural Research Institute in the form of PDF file?

Can you tell me in detail about Pusa Hydrogel for efficient water utilization which is development of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research?

[pawan]

Pusa Hydrogel, a semisynthetic crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, was developed for improving in water use efficiency of agricultural and horticultural crops under limited irrigation and rainfed conditions.

The salient features are:
Cellulosic (a natural polymer) backbone
Free of the toxic monomer (acrylamide)
Exhibits absorbency at high temperatures (40-500C), suitable for semi-arid and arid regions
Absorbs water a minimum of 350 times of its dry weight and gradually releases it
Low rate of application (1-1.5 kg / acre)
Improves physical properties of soils and the soil less media
Improves seed germination and the rate of seedling emergence
Improves root growth and density
Reduces nursery establishment period
Reduces irrigation and fertigation requirements of crops
Delays onset of permanent wilting point

The performance of Pusa hydrogel has been estimated at institute farms, farmers fields at multi-locations in collaboration with different institutes in several crops like groundnut, potato, soybean, mustard, wheat, onion, tomato, cauliflower, carrot, strawberry, opium, maize, sugarcane, paddy, turmeric, chrysanthemum, cotton, etc.

The technology has been licensed to: M/s Earth International Ltd.; M/s Carborundum Ltd.; M/s Sarpanch Samaj; M/s Madhusudan Pvt Ltd., Navabharat Pvt Ltd. and Nagarjuna Fertilizers Pvt Ltd.

Saving Water

It works as an anti-drought mechanism and reduces the water requirement of plants. Typically, a farmer irrigates field every four days for high value crops, but with the gel, one can irrigate the farm every eight days.

It also reduces fertiliser application as it binds the fertiliser to the root, it reduces leaching of fertilisers. The gel helps crops store water for a dry spell and aids farmers to cope with the increasingly unpredictable monsoon seasons.