Integration of organic and mineral nutrient sources enhances wheat production

Integrated plant nutrition management system is one of the best methods of plant nutrition, which enhances the farm productivity. To evaluate the effect of organic and mineral nutrition on wheat production, a field study was conducted at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam. The experiment was arranged according to split plot design in four replications with organic amendments i.e., Sesbania (5.6 tons biomass per ha), cluster bean (5.4 tons biomass per ha) and farm manure (FM) forming the main plots and the mineral fertilizers (control, 120-90-60, 90-70-45, 80-60-40, 60-45-30 and 40-30-20 kg NPK per ha), the sub plots. The incorporation of FM at 6 tons per ha with mineral fertilizers enhanced the grain yield, N and P uptake and their recoveries and agronomic efficiencies significantly. The incorporation of FM increased 13% grain yield over sole mineral fertilizers and 9% over combinations of sesbania and mineral fertilizers. Similarly, uptake of N and P was increased by 27% and 22%, respectively by these combinations. The recoveries of N and P were escalated by 30% and 15% by mixing of FM with mineral fertilizers. The integration of mineral fertilizers with FM not only escalated the grain yield of wheat but also enhanced N and P uptakes and their recoveries over mineral fertilizer alone.