Integrated nutrient management for sustaining wheat (Triticum aestivum) production under late sown condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur dur- ing the rabi seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04 to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management on produc- tivity of late sown wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Addition of 10 t/ha FYM + 25 kg ZnSO /ha together with RDF (rec- 4 ommended dose of fertilizers i.e. 120-26.2-33.3 kg N-P-K/ha), 125% RDF and 150% RDF recorded significantly higher values of yield attributes, grain (3.5-3.7, 3.6-3.8 and 3.8-3.9 t/ha, respectively) and straw (5.2-5.4, 5.3-5.5 and 5.5-5.6 t/ha, respectively) yields than application of RDF (2.9-3.1 t/ha), 125% RDF (3.2-3.5 t/ha) and 150% RDF (3.3-3.6 t/ha) alone. Application of 10 t FYM/ha with RDF produced similar grain yield (3.4-3.6 t/ha) as the yield obtained under 150% RDF alone (3.3-3.6 t/ha). Application of 150% RDF together with 10 tonnes FYM + 25 kg ZnSO /ha although produced maximum grain yield (3.8-3.9 t/ha), however, highest benefit : cost ratio (1.5-1.7) 4 was obtained with 10 t FYM/ha together with RDF only. Addition of 10 t FYM with fertilizers levels significantly in- creased the nutrient uptake by the crop, improved the organic carbon content, N, P and K status and significantly reduced the bulk density of the soil as compared to chemical fertilizer alone.