Hydrogels:A Boon for Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Water-Stressed Environment

India ranks 41st among 181 countries of the world with regard to water stress. More than 60% of the net cultivated area is under dryland condition. Also, more than 30% of the area faces the problem of insufficient rainfall. Hydrogel may prove as a practically convenient and economically feasible option to achieve the goal of agricultural productivity under conditions of water scarcity. It can be easily applied directly in the soil at the time of sowing of field crops and in the growth medium for nursery plantation. The low application rate (i.e. 2.5-5.0 kg/ha) of hydrogel is effective for almost all the crops in relation to soil type and climate of India. The improvement in growth and yield attributing characters and yield of different field, ornamental and vegetable crops has been reported with the application of hydrogel. Agricultural hydrogels are not only used for water saving in irrigation, but they also have tremendous potential to improve physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil. Bulk density, porosity and water holding capacity of the soil are improved with the application of hydrogel. Agricultural hydrogels are eco-friendly, because they are naturally degraded over a period of time, without leaving any toxic residue in the soil and crop products. Hence application of hydrogel will be a fruitful option for increasing agricultural production with sustainability in water-stressed environment.