Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 8

Enhancing Soil Water-physical Properties and Winter Wheat Yield in Rain-fed Regions using Aquasource and Van Polymers

  • Author:
  • S.V. Sahakyan1, T.V. Yedoyan2,*, T.S. Sahakyan3, A. Sh. Eloyan3, S.H. Daveyan3, G.V. Avagyan4
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 1201 to 1208

1Faculty of Urban Economy and Ecology, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

2Faculty of Management and Technology, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

3Department of Amelioration, Scientific Centre of “Soils Science, Agrochemistry and Amelioration after Hrant Petrossyan”, Branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University, 24 Isakov St., Yerevan0004, Republic of Armenia

4Faculty of Agronomy, Armenian National Agrarian University, 74 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia

*Corresponding Author: T.V. Yedoyan, Faculty of Management and Technology, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, 105 Teryan St., Yerevan0009, Republic of Armenia, Email: yedoyantatevik@nuaca.am

Online published on 9 March, 2026.

Abstract

Enhancing productivity in rain-fed soils is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluates the potential of two newly synthesized water-absorbing polymers, Aquasource and Van, to improve soil water-physical properties and increase winter wheat yields in rain-fed areas.

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted from 2021 to 2024. Laboratory experiments assessed the effects of polymer doses on hydraulic conductivity, maximum field moisture and water-holding capacity in soils with different textural compositions. Field experiments examined winter wheat yields in response to different doses of polymers and fertilizers, applied separately and in combination.

Aquasource (100-300 kg ha-1) and Van (1,000-2,000 kg ha-1) increased soil hydraulic conductivity by 20-47%. In light-clay soils, Aquasource (100-150 kg ha-1) and Van (1,000-1,500 kg ha-1) increased maximum field moisture by 8.4-8.6% and 8.0-10.5%, respectively. In heavy and medium loamy soils, the application of 300 kg ha-1 of Aquasource and 2,000 kg ha-1 of Van improved maximum field moisture by 5.0-6.5%. The optimal polymer doses, without fertilizers, were 50 kg ha-1 for Aquasource and 500 kg ha-1 for Van, resulting in a 21.5% and 38% increase in wheat yield, respectively. When combined with fertilizers, yields increased by 22.048.0%. These findings suggest that these polymers can significantly improve soil properties and enhance crop yields, promoting sustainability in rain-fed regions.

Keywords

Agricultural productivity, Hydraulic conductivity, Land improvement, Polymer and fertilizers doses, Water-holding capacity, Yield indicators