Improving Wheat Yield and Quality through an Integrated Nutrient Management System

Abstract

Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of different chemical and biological fertilizers on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Pishtaz), this experiment was conducted in 2013 at the research field of Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch, Iran. The experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and the eight following treatments: (1) control (without any fertilizer application), (2) urea + triple super phosphate, (3) urea + plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), (4) urea + mycorrhiza, (5), urea + mycorrhiza + PGPR, (6) PGPR + triple super phosphate, (7) PGPR and (8) PGPR + mycorrhiza. At the end of the growth period, the following traits were measured: plant height, the number of tillers, 1000 kernels weight, grain yield, total biologic yield, protein content and the harvest index. Analysis of variance indicated that the treatments of the experiment had significant effect on all the measured traits at P≤0.01, except for the protein content which was not affected by the treatments. Mean comparison showed that nitrogen + PGPR + mycorrhiza treatment was the most effective treatment and resulted in the highest plant height (94 cm), the number of tillers (7.2), 1000 kernels weight (44.41 g), grain yield (8645.3 kg/ha) and biologic yield (19762.5). However, the harvest index was the highest in PGPR treatment (58.97). Results of this experiment reveled the effect of integrated nutrient management on wheat yield and quality.