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101
EFFECT OF WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY BASED ON
USING HYDROGEL POLYMER COMPOUND ON GERMINATION AND
PLANT THICKNESS OF WINTER WHEAT
U.S.Saksonov
M.R.Kudratov
Bukhara Institute of Natural Resources Management of the National Research
University of Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural
Mechanization Engineers
E-mail: saksonovumid@gmail.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13683173
Abstract.
The use of a highly swelling hydrogel polymer compound,
synthesized from local raw materials, as a water-saving irrigation technology at
different rates during the cultivation of the winter wheat variety “Starshina” on
gray-brown, light sandy soils with a non-saline profile in the newly developed
desert zone of the Bukhara region, affects the germination and seedling density
of winter wheat. The results of this effect are presented. In the experimental
works, the hydrogel was applied at the following rates: in the 1st option
(control), no hydrogel was used; in the 2nd option, 50 kg ha
-1
; in the 3rd option,
75 kg ha
-1
; in the 4th option, 100 kg ha
-1
; and in the 5th option, 125 kg ha
-1
.
Keywords.
Winter wheat, hydrogel, polymer, compound, seedling, seed,
tillering, tuber, spiking, flowering, ripening.
Introduction.
Wheat is one of the oldest crops on Earth. There is still no
clear information about its origin and where it was first cultivated. In some
countries in Asia and Africa, wheat was grown 10,000 years ago, coinciding with
the advent of agriculture, and it was also cultivated in Iraq 6,500 years later.
Wheat was planted in Egypt 6,000 years before our era.
The development cycle of wheat goes through several stages. The stages of
winter wheat development are as follows: seed germination, tillering, stem
elongation, heading, flowering, and ripening.
One of the unique aspects of winter wheat is its ability to overwinter
effectively. Therefore, the autumn-winter and early spring periods are the most
critical for this crop. During this time, winter wheat can be damaged by
unfavorable conditions, and in some cases, its sprouts may die. In Uzbekistan,
winter wheat remains dormant for 3.5 to 5 months. During this period, it is
exposed to several adverse conditions, the most significant of which is a sharp
drop in air temperature. In such cases, ice crystals form within the cells, and if
physiological processes are disrupted, excess moisture can accumulate in the
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soil due to the slow melting of ice in the spring, leading to the wilting of seeds
and grass.
Experimental system and methods of conduct.
Scientific research was
conducted on the newly cultivated gray-brown, light sandy soils of the “Oltin
Boshok” farm, located in Karaulbazar district, Bukhara region.
In this field experiment, pre-irrigation soil moisture was maintained at 70-
70-65% compared to the limited soil moisture capacity. The fertilization rates
were consistent across all options, with N-250, P-180, and K-90 kg ha
-1
applied,
and the elite winter wheat variety “Starshina” was planted. The research was
conducted using five treatments with three replications, and the experiments
were arranged in a single layer. Additionally, as a water-saving technology,
hydrogel was applied at different rates: 50 kg ha
-1
in the 1st and 2nd options, 75
kg ha
-1
in the 3rd, 100 kg ha
-1
in the 4th, and 125 kg ha
-1
in the 5th.
Results and analysis.
Elite seeds of the “Starshina” variety of winter
wheat were sown in the experimental field on the soil of the newly developed
desert zone between October 13 and October 18 during the years 2019-2022.
The crop was managed according to the agrotechnical practices recommended
for the area. Three to five days after sowing, the seeds were irrigated lightly for
recovery, and full germination was achieved within 9-10 days. It should be noted
that in other regions, pre-planting irrigation is typically carried out to moisten
the soil. However, due to the specific soil and climatic conditions of the
Kaulbazar district - particularly the low moisture retention capacity of the soil—
winter wheat seeds are planted and left for 2-3 days before irrigation. This
allows the seeds to fully germinate; otherwise, there would not be enough soil
moisture for germination. In the experimental field from 2019-2023, the
germination of the “Starshina” variety of winter wheat ranged from 393.2 to
395.9 pieces/m², depending on the option. In the control option, where no
hydrogel polymer compound was mixed into the soil, the number of seedlings
was 393.2 pieces/m², with 379.9 pieces/m² surviving the winter, resulting in
13.3 pieces/m² dying. By the end of the growing season, the seedling density in
the control option was 377.2 pieces/m². In the experiments, the seedling count
in the 2nd option with hydrogel application at 50 kg ha
-1
was 395.1 pieces/m²,
with 384.0 pieces/m² surviving the winter, and the final seedling density was
383.7 pieces/m², with 11.1 pieces/m² dying. In the third option, where the
hydrogel polymer compound was applied at 75 kg ha
-1
, the initial seedling count
was 395.9 pieces/m², with 386.5 pieces/m² surviving the winter, and the final
seedling density was 385.6 pieces/m², with 9.4 pieces/m² dying. This shows that
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the number of overwintered seedlings was 1.5 pieces/m² higher and the number
of dead seedlings was 1.7 pieces/m² lower than in the control option.
Table 1.
Germination and seedling thickness of winter wheat
Opti
on
s
Pre-
irrigation
soil
moisture.
Relative to
LSMC, %
The
number of
sprouted
seedlings,
pieces/m
2
The
number of
seedlings
that have
emerged
from
the
winter,
pieces /m
2
Dead
plants
pieces/m
2
The
number of
seedlings at
the end of
the growing
season,
pieces/m
2
Average in 2019-2023
1.
70-70-65
393,2
379,9
13,3
377,2
2.
395,1
384,0
11,1
383,7
3.
395,9
386,5
9,4
385,6
4.
396,1
391,0
5,1
390,7
5.
396,2
392,0
4,2
390,4
In the research, in the 4th option, where the hydrogel polymer compound
was mixed into the soil at a rate of 100 kg ha
-1
and irrigation was carried out, the
number of sprouted seedlings in the winter wheat field was 396.1 pieces/m².
The number of seedlings that survived the winter was 391.0 pieces/m², and by
the end of the growing period, the seedling count was 390.7 pieces/m², with 5.1
pieces/m² having died. Compared to the control option, these values were
higher by 2.9, 11.1, and 13.5 pieces/m², respectively, while the number of dead
seedlings decreased by 8.2 pieces/m².
In the course of the scientific research, winter wheat was grown with a
hydrogel polymer compound mixed into the soil at a rate of 125 kg ha
-1
in the
5th option. In this option, the number of sprouted seedlings in the winter wheat
field was 396.2 pieces/m², the number of seedlings that survived the winter was
392.0 pieces/m², and the number of dead seedlings was 4.2 pieces/m². By the
end of the growing period, the seedling density was 390.4 pieces/m², which was
13.2 pieces/m² higher compared to the control option (Table 1).
Conclusions.
The use of a highly swelling hydrogel polymer compound,
synthesized from local raw materials, as a water-saving irrigation technology at
various rates during the cultivation of the winter wheat variety “Starshina” on
gray-brown, light sandy soils with a non-saline profile in the newly developed
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International scientific-online conference
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desert zone of the Bukhara region impacts both germination and seedling
density. Experimental studies demonstrated that increasing the application rate
of the hydrogel polymer compound improves soil moisture retention and
enhances seedling thickness. Additionally, the use of the hydrogel polymer
compound was associated with a reduction in the death of winter wheat plants.
By the end of the growing season, the number of seedlings was higher in the
options where the hydrogel polymer compound was used compared to the
control (option 1). This, in turn, ensures a higher and better-quality harvest of
winter wheat.
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