Yield and economics of soybean (Glycine max L.) as influenced by moisture stress management practices under rainfed condition

During the Kharif, 2022-23, an agronomical study was carried out at the Agronomy Experimental Farm, College of Agriculture, Latur, to assess the yield and economics of soybean (Glycine max L.) as affected by moisture stress management practices under rainfed conditions. The experimental layout used a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments were: T1 - Control, T2 - Straw mulching at 2.5 tons ha⁻¹, T3 - Straw mulching at 5.0 tons ha⁻¹, T4 - Hydrogel at 2.5 kg ha⁻¹, T5 - Potassium nitrate at 2% during the pre-flowering stage, T6 - Potassium nitrate at 2% during both the pre- flowering and pod development stages, T7 - Kaolin at 5% during the pre- flowering stage, and T8 - Hoeing at 20 days post-sowing. The gross plot area was 5.4 m x 4.5 m, whereas the net plot size was 4.5 m x 3.9m. On July 9, 2022, soybeans were seeded using the dibbling method at a seed rate of 65 kg/ha. The crop's recommended fertilizer dose (RDF) was 30:60:30 kg NPK per hectare. T4-hydrogel treatment at 2.5 kg ha-1 significantly improved yield characteristics, including number of seed plants (81.76), seed yield (2805 kg ha-1), straw yield (3381 kg ha-1), biological yield (6186 kg ha-1), and cost-effectiveness in terms of GMR (110811), NMR (73977), and B:C ratio (3.01).