Efficacy of Fasal Amrit hydrogel on growth, yield and economics of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) under South Gujarat Conditions, India

Water scarcity is a primary constraint on crop productivity, with moisture stress during key growth stages causing yield losses of 30–40%. Sustaining yields requires enhancing soil water retention and irrigation efficiency through improved water-saving technologies and agronomic strategies. A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2024 and 2025 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, BAIF Campus, Chaswad, Bharuch district in Gujarat to study the efficacy of Fasal Amrit (EF Polymer) on crop productivity, plant nutrient uptake, soil nutrient status and water savings in green gram (Vigna radiata L.). The study involved field experiments incorporating two levels of Fasal Amrit (EF Polymer) at 15 and 20 kgha-1, along with RDF levels of 100, 90, 85 and 80%, to assess their impact on various agronomic parameters and water regimes. The pooled results indicated that among the treatments, Fasal Amrit @ 20 kg ha⁻¹ + 100% RDF (T₃) recorded the highest plant height (53.20 cm), number of leaves (36.57), branches per plant (9.69), pods per plant (18.30), grains per pod (8.37), and test weight (4.15 g). This treatment also produced the maximum grain yield (1556.42 kg ha⁻¹) and straw yield (3559.03 kg ha⁻¹), showing a 53.7% yield increase over RDF alone (1012.78 kg ha⁻¹). Economic analysis revealed that T₃ resulted in the highest gross return (₹1,29,141 ha⁻¹), net return (₹71,358 ha⁻¹) and benefit–cost ratio (2.23). Nutrient uptake analysis showed increased nitrogen and crude protein contents in grain and straw under Fasal Amrit treatments. Soil analysis after harvest indicated improvements in organic carbon and nutrient contents. Additionally, this treatment saved 0.97 million liters of water per hectare. The study concludes that Fasal Amrit can be a viable strategy for improving the resilience of summer green gram cultivation under water-limited conditions.