Studies on Comparative Efficiency of Organic, Chemical and Integrated Nutrient Management in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important cereal among the food grain crop in the world. It is basic component of human diet and the staple food of Indian people meeting the majority dietary requirements next to rice. It is being cultivated on an area about 215.7 million hectare, which is approximately 14% of the global arable land. China ranks first in terms of production (91.3 mt) with an area of 21 .7 m ha, whereas India ranks first in area (26.6 M ha) and second in production (72.07 mt) (Kumar and Shivay, 2005). Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan are the premier states in wheat production and contribute more than 90% of the wheat grain to the central occupies pool. U.P. occupies about 9.09 m ha area with an average productivity of 2596 kg/ha and total production 33.6 m tones. In U. P. Lucknow, Agra and Meerut division are first in area, production and production and productivity (Anon., 2004-05). Non judicious use of chemical fertilizers over a long term in agriculture had shown the adverse effect on soil health and crop yield. Highly productive soils have started showing signs of declining productivity with increasing cropping intensities. Capacity of soil to replenish nutrient level in soil is declining and therefore use of chemical fertilizer increasing day by day. (Balyan and ldnani, 2000). lndiscrimate uses of fertilizer adversely affecting the physico-chemical properties of the soil resulting in stagnation in productivity. Keeping above facts in view, the present investigation was conducted for 2 years (2007 -08 and 2008-09) at Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agric, & Tech, Meerut (U.P.) during rabi season to work out the best nutrient option in wheat. Two field experiments were separately conducted consisting 10 treatment combinations (T1 Control, T2 100% NPK, T3 125% NPK, T4 75% NPK + VC 3t /ha, T5 75% NPK +FYM 20 t/ha, Te 75% NPK + VC 1.5t /ha + 10 t/ha FYM, T7 50% NPK + VC 6t /ha, Ta 50% NPK + VC 3t /ha + FYM 20 t/ha, T9 25% NPK + VC 6t /ha + FYM 20 t/ha, T1o VC 9t /ha + FYM 20 t/ha) in randomized block design with four replication. Growth parameters viz. plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulations were influenced significantly by different nutrient options. Yield attributes viz. spike length, number of grains/spike, and number of spikelets I spike and 1 GOOgrain weight were also influenced significantly through by different nutrient options. The significantly higher number of yield attributes and yield was found under the treatment 125% NPK and it was found statistically at par with 75% NPK + VC 3t /ha. The application of 75% NPK + VC 3t /ha is found as effective as 125% NPK in terms of growth, yield attributing characters and yield of wheat. With the integration of organic and inorganic nutrient sources nutrient 'content, protein content, N, P, K use efficiency in wheat also improved. Although cost 'of cultivation in 75% NPK + VC 3t /ha is slightly higher than solely inorganic treatments but for sustainability of soil health and productivity, it can be practiced over sole inorganic treatments as little variation was found between the net returns in 100% NPK and 75% NPK + VC 3t /ha.