Assessing the Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in North Indian Plains

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2022-2023 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and economic sustainability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Uttarakhand at the Agriculture Research Farm, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design and consisted of eight treatments viz., T1 – Control, T2 – 100% RDF, T3- 100% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1, T4- 100 % RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1, T5- 75% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1, T6- 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1, T7- 75% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter, T8- 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter with three replications. The wheat variety used for the field experiment was HD-2967 with a seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. Row-row spacing of 20 cm and plant -plant spacing of 10 cm was maintained. Different nutrient sources used were urea, DAP, MOP, FYM, VC and Azotobacter. Seed were primed with Azotobacter @ 20g kg-1 seed as per the treatment. The investigation revealed that, application of 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T8) resulted in significantly higher yield attributes no. of spikes/m2, spike length (cm), grain/spike, 1000 grain weight (g) over control. The maximum grain yield (50.2 q ha-1) of wheat were obtained with application of 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T8) closely followed by 75% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T7). Moreover, straw yield was 85.92% higher over the control. The maximum gross return (₹ 141646.0), and net return (₹ 100045.0) of wheat was obtained with application of 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T8) followed by the 75% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T7). The maximum benefit-cost ratio (2.79) was obtained with the application of 75% RDF + FYM @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T7). From the above investigation it can be concluded that 75% RDF + VC @ 5t ha-1 + Azotobacter is superior to other treatment in improving the productivity and economic returns of wheat.