Response of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Growth, Yield, and Nutrient use Efficiency of Wheat under Irrigated Conditions

Abstract

To feed Pakistan's rapidly growing population, wheat productivity must be increased through balanced nutrition. Chemical fertilizer prices are rising and there is low nutrient use efficiency, as well as excessive or imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers. Integrated nutrient management treatments -the use of bio-fertilizer plus inorganic fertilizers-is a promising technology that not only increases crop yield, nutrient use efficiency. A field experiment was conducted at Naseerabad (Baluchistan) to assess the effect of (bio-fertilizer, inorganic fertilizers including Zn plus Boric Acid) on wheat crop production and nutrient use efficiency under irrigated conditions. A randomized complete block design was used to arrange the treatments (RCBD). Comprised with four treatments (INM NPK@120:9 0:60 kg/ha-1 Zn 5 kg, Boric acid 1 Kg/ha-1) FP treatment NP@75:50 kg/ha-1RDFtreatment.NPK,100.80.50 kg/ha-1and control treatment. This bio fertilizer plus chemical fertilizer significantly improves wheat growth parameters such as plant height, number of grains spiked, straw, and grain yield. Similarly, integrated nutrient management technology significantly increased N, P, K uptake in wheat grain content while increasing nutrient use efficiency. The highest grain yield was recorded (4.9 t/ha-1) in integrated nutrient management treatments with 120 kg N, 90 kg P, 60 kg K, 5 kg Zn, and 1 kg B ha-1 combined with bio-fertilizer plus farmyard manure. It resulted in a 25% increase over farmer practice (FP) and a 9% increase over the RDF treatment. The use of balance fertilizer in wheat resulted in significantly increased the wheat crop yield also improved agronomic parameters