Economical Analysis of Application of Different Levels of Superabsorbent and Moisture Stress in Autumn Wheat Cultivation

Despite studies on the performance of superabsorbents in improving soil physical conditions, as well as increasing the yield and productivity of water consumption, economic issues have received less attention from researchers. Therefore in this study to investigate the effects of water stress and superabsorbent polymers on yield and yield components of wheat in 2015-2016 growing years, a factorial experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of combination of three levels of irrigation to supply 100, 70 and 50% crop water requirement (FC, 0.7FC, 0.5FC respectively) and three levels of superabsorbent (Stockosorb) with the amount of 0, 50 and 100 kg.ha-1 (S0, S1, S2 respectively). The results of economic indicators showed that the highest net income was allocated to S0,FC and S1,0.7FC treatments. The highest gross income to production cost ratio was allocated to the S0,0.7FC treatment, which had a significant difference with the control treatment (S0,FC) at the 5% level. The maximum (+44.2%) and minimum (-11.7%) of net income to irrigation water amount ratios were belong to S1,0.7FC and S2,0.5FC  treatments, as compared to control treatment (S0,FC), respectively. Therefore, in the best (S1,0.7FC treatment) condition, compared with control treatment, superabsorbent and water stress interaction effects increased gross income and net income equal to 12.2 and 1.1%, respectively. The investigating interaction effects of treatments showed that the superabsorbent application is recommended only in S1,0.7FC treatment condition due to increasing yield and cultivation area  (leading of reducing water consumption) and economic justification.