Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15 at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), alone and in combination with 10 t/ha compost, 5 t/ha vermicompost and Azotobacter and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on growth, yield at tributes, yields and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Treatments were laid out in a 3 times replicated randomized block design. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam, deficient in nitrogen and medium in phosphorus and potassium. Combined use of RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha, RDF + compost @ 10 t/ha and RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter and PSB increased the tillers/m2 by 30.6%, 27.6% and 26.8%, respec tively, over RDF in wheat. Similarly, the combined use of RDF, compost or vermicompost and biofertilizers im proved values of yield attributes, which reflected in higher grain yield of wheat. The highest grain yield of wheat was recorded with RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB in the first year, and with RDF + compost @ 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB in second year, though both these treatments gave at par grain yield during both the years. Averaged across 2 years, treatments RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB and RDF + compost @ 10 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB increased the grain yield by 21.5 and 20.1%, respectively over the RDF.