A trail was carried out at Central Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj, (U.P.) during Zaid-2020. The soil of experimental site was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and having nine treatment consisted of Hydrogel viz., H0 (0 kg/ha), H1 (2 kg/ha) and H2 (4 kg/ha) and Irrigation viz., I1 (2 Irrigation during Emergence and Early Tillering), I2 (3 Irrigation during Emergence, Early Tillering and Boot stage) and I3 (4 Irrigation during Emergence, Early Tillering, Boot stage and Grain filling) which are replicated thrice and effect was observed on Manipuri variety of Bajra. The result shown significantly higher effect of irrigation on plant height (182.34 cm), Earhead length (34.05 cm), Total Dry weight (128.33 g), LAI (6.02), Grain yield (1.88 t/ha), Stover yield (4.31 t/ha) and harvest index (30.24 %) were recorded in four irrigation. In case of effect of hydrogel, significantly higher plant he

Hydrogel, Irrigation, Yield, Pearl Millet.

Pearl millet needs a less amount of water as compared to rice or wheat. Application of hydrogel along with irrigation during critical stage of crop in pearl millets provides a better results as compared to only irrigated conditions. Hence for better growth and yield of pearl millet, application of 4 irrigation at different growth stages along with hydrogel 4 kg/ha considerable increased and found beneficial. Hydrogel breaks down to CO2 and ammonia when comes in contact with sunlight leaving behind zero residue. Application of hydrogel with limited amount of irrigation available with farmers in different part of arid and semi-arid region of India can be helpful by increase yield of crop without any detrimental effect to soil.

Ray, S., Umesha C. and Meshram, M. R. (2021). Response of Irrigation and Hydrogel on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under eastern UP condition. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(2): 404-407.