Efficacy of Hydrogels under Sensor Based Irrigation on Biochemical Contents of Tree Mulberry Leaves
P. Harshita Mala *
Department of Sericulture, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
K. G. Banuprakash
Department of Sericulture, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
K. S. Vinoda
Department of Sericulture, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
Fatima sadatulla
Department of Sericulture, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
G. G. Kadalli
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
D. C. Hanumanthappa
AICRP-Agroforestry, GKVK, Bengaluru, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The efficacy of hydrogels under sensor-based irrigation on biochemical contents of tree mulberry leaves was studied during 2022-23 and the experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatment combinations and three replications. The hydrogels were applied during beginning of first crop and the observations were recorded at 45th Day After Pruning (DAP), the pooled data of five crops were analyzed. 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 biochemical composition of leaf viz., total chlorophyll (2.59 mgg-1), protein (20.32%), carbohydrates (20.29%), crude fibre (12.13%), fat (1.12%) and ash contents (9.54%) were found highest in the treatment which received Zeba hydrogel @ 6 kg/ac.
Keywords: V1 tree mulberry, sensor based irrigation, hydrogels, leaf nutrient status