Application Effect of Micronutrients in Conjunction with FYM on Availability of Nutrients in Soil and Growth Performance of Late Sown Wheat

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted on wheat in winter (Rabi) season for two consecutive years (2018-19 and 2019-20) at the Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut -250110. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The soil was low in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, potassium, DTPA extractable zinc, manganese and iron. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replication and 9 treatments. The treatments consisted T1: control, T2: RDF 80:40:40 NPK kg ha-1, T3: RDF + Zn @ 5.0 kg ha-1, T4: RDF + Fe @ 5.0 kg ha-1, T5: RDF + Mn @ 5.0 kg ha-1, T6: RDF + 5 ton FYM ha-1, T7: RDF + Zn @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1, T8: RDF + Fe @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1 and T9: RDF + Mn @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1. The wheat cultivar (DBW-71) was sown with a seed rate 120 kg ha-1. Split dose of N, full dose of P, K and soil application of Zn, Mn and Fe at the time of sowing. FYM was applied 15 days before sowing according to treatments. All the growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient content and their uptake, available nutrient status in soil and economic feasibility were assessed during experiments. The findings of experiments revealed that the growth parameters like plant height, number of tillers per m-2, dry matter accumulation and yield attributes i.e. spike length, spikelet per spike, no. of grain per spike, 1000 grain weight and yield of grain and straw was registered maximum with application of T7 (RDF + Zn @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1) followed by T8 (RDF + Fe @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1) and T9 (RDF + Mn @ 5.0 kg ha-1 + 5 ton FYM ha-1). The content and uptake of nutrients was improved with the combined application of micronutrients along with FYM and RDF. Soil fertility level in respect to applied nutrients and other chemical properties of soil was improved with the soil application of zinc, iron and manganese along with FYM and RDF. The highest net return and B:C ratio were obtained in T7. Thus, balanced nutrients application through micronutrients along with organic manure and recommended dose of fertilizers is found to be better in improving the every aspect of wheat cultivation including the soil fertility.