Leaching of soil nutrients diminishes soil quality and hence productivity. Soil physiochemical properties can be significantly improved by using soil conditioners like dairy manure and polyacrylamide. Least research has been conducted on cumulative effect of dairy manure and polyacrylamide on physiochemical properties of soil and crop yield especially wheat. Four doses of dairy manure (0, 2, 4, and 8 Mg ha-1) and two doses of polyacrylamide (0 and 20 kg ha-1) were applied to soil under natural field conditions to assess soil physiochemical properties and growth parameters in wheat crop (root length, wheat plant biomass and wheat grain weight). A combined dose of dairy manure and polyacrylamide i.e. M8P20 (containing 8 Mg ha-1 dairy manure and 20 Kg polyacrylamide) was the most effective among all the treatments. It significantly influenced all the measured physiochemical parameters (bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio, water stable aggregates, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen etc.) of soil and enhanced growth and yield of wheat primarily due to formation of artificial polymers by adding polyacrylamide. Force of cohesion among the soil particles was significantly enhanced due to addition of dairy manure and polyacrylamide, which could influence the physical parameters of soil and thus enhances the productivity of soil. Combined application of PAM and DM was found effective in improving soil physicochemical properties and hence wheat yield. Additionally this application should be made cost effective and easily accessible to all farmers.

Keywords: Dairy manure; Polyacrylamide; Physico–chemical Properties; Wheat.