Varietal Performance and Growth Dynamics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management under Semi-arid Conditions of Rajasthan
Jul 2026· Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology· 0 citations
Abstract
Wheat productivity in semi-arid regions is often constrained by unsuitable varietal selection and imbalanced nutrient management. Integrating appropriate wheat varieties with balanced inorganic fertilisers and organic nutrient sources may improve crop growth and yield under such conditions. A field experiment was conducted during the 2025–26 rabi season at the Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, to evaluate the performance of three wheat varieties under six integrated nutrient management treatments. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. The varieties were RAJ 3077, RAJ 4238, and RAJ 3765, while the nutrient treatments comprised the control, 75% RDF, 100% RDF, 125% RDF, 75% RDF + 25% N through FYM, and 100% RDF + 25% N through FYM. Growth parameters, yield attributes, and yield differed significantly among varieties and nutrient treatments. RAJ 3765 produced the greatest plant height, tiller number, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate. It also recorded the highest spike length (9.08 cm), number of grains spike⁻¹ (44.09), 1000-grain weight (47.14 g), grain yield (4233 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (8554 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (12786 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (32.76%). Among the nutrient treatments, 100% RDF + 25% N through FYM produced the highest corresponding values, including a spike length of 10.14 cm, 48.56 grains spike⁻¹, 1000-grain weight of 47.50 g, grain yield of 4693 kg ha⁻¹, straw yield of 9073 kg ha⁻¹, biological yield of 13767 kg ha⁻¹, and harvest index of 34.07%. The findings indicate that RAJ 3765 combined with 100% RDF + 25% N through FYM was the most productive treatment under the study conditions.
Wheat productivity is constrained by declining soil fertility and low nutrient-use efficiency resulting from the continuous dependence on chemical fertilizers. Integrated Nutrient Management, through the judicious integration of organic, inorganic, and biological nutrient sources, offers a sustainable approach to enhance crop growth, yield, soil health, and long-term productivity; however, its effectiveness in combination with nano-fertilizers requires further evaluation. Therefore, a field experiment was planned during the Rabi season of 2024-25 and 2025-26, at the research farm of Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana. The experiment was laid out in a two-factorial randomized block design with three replications. Factor A comprised two wheat varieties (WH 1270 and DBW 222), while Factor B consisted of eight nutrient management treatments involving RDF, vermicompost (2 t/ha), foliar nano urea (1250 mL/ha), foliar nano DAP (1250 mL/ha), and Azotobacter applied alone or in combination. The pooled data revealed that the variety DBW 222 showed significantly higher plant height (94.34 cm), number of tillers/meter row length (65.77), DMA/meter row length (224.82 g), LAI (5.56), spike length (9.84 cm), grains/spikes (48.31), effective tillers/m2 (300.80), test weight (40.27 g), grain yield (5042 kg/ha) and straw yield (6651 kg/ha) over variety WH 1270. Among various nutrient combinations, maximum plant height (104.65 cm), number of tillers/meter row length (70.51), DMA/meter row length (251.73 g), LAI (6.18), spike length (10.88 cm), grains/spikes (51.37), effective tillers/m2 (322.57), test weight (42.21 g), grain yield (5642 kg/ha) and straw yield (7439 kg/ha) was recorded with treatment T3 (100% RDF with vermicompost @ 2t/ha) which was found at par with T5 and T4. These treatments were found superior over T2, T6, T8 and T7. The least were found in T1
Sanjeev Kumar, I.S. Singh· Research on Crops· 0 citations
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif 2022 and rabi 2022–2023 seasons at the Research Farm of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of different nutrient-management strategies on crop productivity, system productivity, production efficiency, land-use efficiency, and economics of a maize (Zea mays L.)–mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping system under semi-arid conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven nutrient-management treatments comprising 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), organic farming, natural farming, integrated nutrient management (INM), site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), farmers’ practice, and 75% RDF integrated with green manuring, with three replications. Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), comprising 100% of the recommended nutrients supplemented with Zn @ 5 kg ha⁻¹, B @ 1 kg ha⁻¹, S @ 60 kg ha⁻¹, and Fe @ 1 kg ha⁻¹, recorded the highest growth and yield attributes in both crops. In maize, SSNM produced the maximum plant height (205.46 cm), grain yield (4660 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (9735 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (14396 kg ha⁻¹). Similarly, in mustard, it recorded the highest plant height (248.77 cm), siliquae plant⁻¹ (353.33), seed yield (2026 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (4968 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (6994 kg ha⁻¹). The same treatment also resulted in the highest mustard equivalent yield (3702 kg ha⁻¹), production efficiency (14.76 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹), and land-use efficiency (68.68%). Economic analysis revealed that SSNM generated the maximum gross and net returns from both maize (₹128,441 and ₹77,051 ha⁻¹, respectively) and mustard (₹127,829 and ₹83,417 ha⁻¹, respectively), whereas the highest benefit:cost ratio in mustard (1.96) was recorded under 75% RDF integrated with green manuring. The findings demonstrate that site-specific nutrient management integrating balanced macro- and micronutrient application substantially enhanced crop productivity, system efficiency, and profitability of the maize–mustard cropping system and can be recommended as a sustainable nutrient management strategy for the semi-arid Bundelkhand region.
Artika Singh, Shivank Prajapati, R. Choudhary et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
Efficient irrigation scheduling and appropriate varietal selection are essential for sustaining wheat productivity under limited water availability. A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the influence of irrigation scheduling on the growth and yield of wheat varieties. The experiment comprised 12 treatment combinations involving three irrigation schedules (0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 IW/CPE ratios) and four wheat varieties (HD-2285, NW-1067, Kundan, and Unnat Halna), arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. An irrigation depth of 60 mm was applied at each irrigation. Growth and yield parameters were recorded and statistically analysed. Irrigation scheduling significantly affected wheat growth, yield attributes, and yield. Irrigation at 1.2 IW/CPE produced the highest plant height, dry-matter accumulation (992.60 g m⁻²), leaf area index, tiller density, spike density, spike length, grains per spike, straw yield, and grain yield (42.87 q ha⁻¹). However, its grain yield was statistically comparable with that obtained at 0.9 IW/CPE (41.91 q ha⁻¹), while 0.6 IW/CPE produced 34.73 q ha⁻¹. Among the varieties, HD-2285 recorded the highest grain yield (43.16 q ha⁻¹) and straw yield (58.95 q ha⁻¹), whereas Kundan recorded the lowest grain yield (36.92 q ha⁻¹). The findings indicate that HD-2285 performed best under the experimental conditions and that 0.9 IW/CPE achieved grain yield comparable with 1.2 IW/CPE.
Shweta Gupta, Anchal Singh, Ankur Tripathi et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Research Farm of Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, to evaluate the effects of irrigation regimes and nitrogen scheduling on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations involving three irrigation regimes, viz., three irrigations (I₁), four irrigations (I₂), and five irrigations (I₃), and three nitrogen scheduling treatments, viz., N₁ (50% basal + 50% at crown root initiation (CRI)), N₂ (50% basal + 25% at CRI + 25% at jointing stage) and N₃ (33.33% at each of the basal, CRI, and jointing stages). The treatments were evaluated in a split-plot design with three replications. Irrigation regimes and nitrogen scheduling had no significant effect on plant stand at 20 DAS and at harvest. However, both factors significantly influenced plant height and dry matter accumulation from 60 DAS onwards. Among the irrigation regimes, five irrigations (I₃) produced the maximum plant height (68.14, 83.06, and 87.58 cm at 60 DAS, 90 DAS, and harvest, respectively) and dry matter accumulation (145.81, 189.65 and 250.71 g m⁻¹ row length at 60 DAS, 90 DAS and harvest, respectively). Similarly, nitrogen applied in three equal splits (N₃) recorded the highest plant height (67.32, 82.00 and 87.61 cm) and dry matter accumulation (146.00, 189.00 and 250.63 g m⁻¹ row length) at the corresponding growth stages. The findings indicate that five irrigations and nitrogen applied in three equal splits at the basal, CRI, and jointing stages, considered as separate management effects, provided favourable conditions for sustained vegetative growth by improving plant height and biomass accumulation. These management practices may therefore be considered for enhancing wheat growth under semi-arid agro-ecological conditions.
Priyanka Shrivastava, Neetu, Shubham C. Salve et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
Background: Rice productivity in red and lateritic soils can be constrained by limited nutrient availability, making coordinated varietal selection and nutrient management important for improving crop performance.
Aims: To evaluate the effects of rice varieties and integrated nutrient management on growth, yield attributes and productivity of rice and to identify the most promising variety × nutrient-management combination under red and lateritic soils of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal.
Study Design: A split-plot design with three replications was used, with three rice varieties in the main plots and five nutrient-management treatments in the sub-plots.
Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2025 at the Agricultural Experimental Farm of Midnapore City College, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
Methodology: IR-64, MTU-1010 and IR-36 were evaluated with five treatments: T₁, control; T₂, recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF: 80-40-40 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹); T₃, RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha⁻¹; T₄, RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha⁻¹; and T₅, RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha⁻¹ + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹. Growth, yield attributes and yield were recorded. Data were analysed using split-plot ANOVA, and means were compared using LSD at 5% probability.
Results: Variety, nutrient management and their interaction significantly influenced growth and yield. IR-64 recorded the highest grain yield (5.66 t ha⁻¹), followed by IR-36 (5.46 t ha⁻¹) and MTU-1010 (4.66 t ha⁻¹). T₅ produced the highest grain yield (6.60 t ha⁻¹) compared with 2.40 t ha⁻¹ under the control. The highest grain yield was recorded under V₁T₅ (7.05 t ha⁻¹), whereas V₂T₁ recorded the lowest (2.10 t ha⁻¹).
Conclusion: The integrated application of mineral fertiliser with FYM and vermicompost improved rice productivity under the experimental conditions. IR-64 with T₅ was the most promising combination and may be considered for similar red and lateritic soil conditions, subject to further multi-location and multi-season evaluation.
Krisanu Mondal, Subhendu Das, A. Bhowmik et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Pearl millet is an important climate-resilient cereal crop; however, its productivity remains below potential due to inefficient nitrogen management and widespread zinc deficiency, particularly in the light-textured soils of semi-arid Punjab. Therefore, there is a need to develop an integrated nitrogen and zinc management strategy to enhance nutrient-use efficiency, crop productivity, soil fertility, and economic returns. Based on this, a field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 and 2025 at Guru Kashi University, Punjab, India, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, soil fertility, and economics of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with ten treatments comprising different nitrogen levels (80, 100 and 120% recommended dose) applied alone and in combination with zinc at 8 and 10 kg/ha. Integrated application of the recommended nitrogen dose with 100% RDN + 10 kg Zn/ha significantly enhanced dry matter accumulation, effective tillers, grain and stover yield, nutrient uptake, and economic returns over the control. Soil pH, EC, and organic carbon remained unaffected, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc showed slight improvement. Higher nitrogen application beyond the recommended dose did not provide additional yield benefits, emphasizing the importance of balanced fertilization. The study indicates that 100% RDN + 10 kg Zn/ha is an effective, sustainable, and economically viable nutrient management strategy for pearl millet under semi-arid Punjab conditions.
Harmanpreet Singh, K. Bansal, Sanjay Kumar et al.· Research on Crops· 0 citations
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