Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Nitrogen Content and Uptake in Wheat under the Rice–wheat Cropping System of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices involving synthetic fertilisers, organic manure, and biofertilisers on nitrogen content and uptake in wheat grain and straw. Ten nutrient-management treatments were evaluated: T₁ (control); T₂ (75% RDF NPK); T₃ (100% RDF NPK; 150:75:60 kg ha⁻¹); T₄ (75% RDF NPK + ZnSO₄ at 25 kg ha⁻¹); T₅ (75% RDF NPK + vermicompost at 2.5 t ha⁻¹); T₆ (75% RDF NPK + ZnSO₄ + vermicompost at 2.5 t ha⁻¹); T₇ (75% RDF NPK + Azotobacter + PSB); T₈ (75% RDF NPK + ZnSO₄ + vermicompost at 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + Azotobacter + PSB); T₉ (100% RDF NPK + ZnSO₄); and T₁₀ (100% RDF NPK + Azotobacter + PSB). Integrated treatments significantly improved nitrogen concentration and uptake compared with the control. T₈ recorded the highest nitrogen contents in grain (2.20%) and straw (0.62%) and the maximum total nitrogen uptake (142.5 kg ha⁻¹). Its performance was statistically at par with T₉ and T₁₀. The findings indicate that combining inorganic fertilisers with vermicompost, ZnSO₄, and biofertilisers improved nitrogen availability and accumulation in wheat. Thus, T₈ may be considered a nutrient-management option for wheat under the rice–wheat cropping system of Western Uttar Pradesh, subject to validation across additional seasons and locations.