Impact of Different Fertility Levels and Organic Nutrient Sources on Productivity, Quality and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Emend. Fiori & Paol)

Abstract

A field study was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Vivekanand Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan during Rabi season of 2018-19 with the objective to find out the impact of different fertility levels and organic nutrient sources on productivity, quality and economics of wheat. The field experiment was laid out with three fertility levels (75%, 100% and 125% recommended dose of fertilizers) randomly allocated to the main plots of split plot design and five treatments of organic sources (control, vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB, farmyard manures @ 5 t ha-1 and farmyard manures @ 5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB) assigning to sub-plots by replicating thrice. The experimental findings revealed that, among the fertility levels, the application of 125% recommended dose of fertilizers (120:60:60 N: P: K) being at par with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers, recorded significantly maximum yields (grain, straw and biological yield, respectively 40.19, 58.27 and 98.46 q ha-1), nitrogen content and their uptake by grain and protein content in grain of wheat over 75% recommended dose of fertilizers. The same treatment also recorded significantly maximum net returns ( 33698 ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.46) of wheat. Similarly, the application of farmyard manures @ 5 tha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB being at par with application of vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB, recorded significantly highest grain, straw and biological yield (42.13, 61.07 and 94.85 q ha-1, respectively), nitrogen content and their uptake by grain and protein content in grain of wheat as compared to other treatments. The results further stated that significantly maximum net returns (32384 ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.48) of wheat was obtained by application of farmyard manures @ 5 tha-1 + Azotobacter + PSB.