Enhancing stress mitigation in okra cultivation through hydrogel and vermicompost applications in water-limited environments

Abiotic stresses like water scarcity and poor soil conditions limit the productivity of rainfed agriculture in Jharkhand, India. Predominantly, rice, maize, and pulses are mono-cropped over large areas, while vegetables such as okra are less cultivated due to limited water availability and low soil water-holding capacity, particularly during post-rainy seasons. This study evaluates the potential of two hydrogels, Pusa Hydrogel and SPG-1818 Hydrogel, in improving soil moisture retention and mitigating water stress to support vegetable cultivation. Both hydrogels are superabsorbent polymers capable of significantly enhancing the soil's water-holding capacity. Field experiments were conducted using hydrogels in combination with vermicompost at various levels. The results demonstrated that the application of SPG-1818 Hydrogel also showed superior performance in reducing Stress Degree Days (SDD) and improving yield attributes such as the number of branches, leaves, pods, and overall biomass. Among treatments, SPG-1818 Hydrogel at 20 kg/ha combined with 2 kg/ha vermicompost (T13) emerged as the most effective, achieving a 73.1% increase in yield compared to the control. These findings underscore the potential of hydrogel-based soil amendments for enhancing water-use efficiency, alleviating drought stress, and improving crop resilience in water-limited regions. The study highlights hydrogels as a sustainable, cost-effective approach to support vegetable cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions.