Comparative effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on yield, soil properties, and economics of wheat under rice-wheat cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of various organic nutrient sources on wheat production, soil properties and economics of wheat crop at Kurukshetra, Haryana, during the rabi season of 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with a total of eight treatments based on different organic nutrients sources. Experimental results demonstrated that yield contributing parameters such as the number of effective tillers, grains per spike, test weight and spike length were significantly higher in T7 (RDF) followed by in T2 (FYM @ 15 t/ha), T1 (Vermicompost @7.5 t/ha) and other cow-based nutrient sources. Significantly higher net returns (₹ 31508 /ha) and Benefitcost ratio (1.39) were documented in T7 followed by in T1 and T2, respectively. Application of different organic formulations significantly improved microbial count (total bacterial, total fungi, azotobacter, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacterial count) in the soil rhizosphere over the inorganic source of nutrients. Due to stimulation of soil microbial activity by the application of various organic nutrient sources significantly improved the available NPK status of the soil and biological activity in the soil. Among various organic treatments, the highest available nitrogen and phosphorous were recorded under vermicompost applied plots whereas, the highest available potassium was recorded in Farm Yard Manure (FYM) treated plots. Hence, organic sources can be a suitable alternative over inorganic nutrient sources to sustain crop yield and productivity of the soil over a longer period of time.