Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Lalita H Saini, AK Saini, SH Malve, Jaykumar P Patel and Brihma Nand and HS Chaudhary

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2020-21 on loamy sand soils of Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to assess the impact of vermicompost, biofertilizer and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and economics of wheat. The soil was low in organic carbon (0.22%) and available nitrogen (165.8 kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus (43.8 kg/ha) and high in potash (330.9 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (Factorial concept) and replicated thrice. Twelve treatment combinations consisting three levels of vermicompost, two levels of biofertilizer and two levels of nitrogen were embedded. The results indicated that significantly higher growth and yield parameters viz., plant height (85.1, 81.6, 82.5 cm), number of tillers per plant (3.72, 3.56, 3.62), dry matter accumulation at harvest (261.0, 242.5, 249.4 g/mrl), length of spike (10.9, 10.2, 10.4 cm), number of seeds per spike (40.16, 37.74, 37.93), grain weight per spike (1.52, 1.45, 1.48 g) and test weight (38.54, 37.28, 37.65 g) with individual application of 4 t/ha vermicompost, Azotobacter chroococcum inoculation @ 5 ml/kg seed and 100% RDN, respectively. Combined application of 4 t/ha vermicompost + 100% RDN produced significantly higher grain yield (5096 kg/ha) and straw yield (6362 kg/ha) over other combination but being at par with treatment combination 4 t/ha vermicompost + 75% RDN. Thus, it is concluded that for securing higher grain and straw yield the wheat seed should be inoculated with Azotobacter chroococcum @ 5 ml/kg seed and crop should be fertilized with 90 kg nitrogen per ha (two splits, i.e. 50% as basal and 50% at 21 days after sowing) along with application of 4 t vermicompost and phosphorus 60 kg per ha as basal application in loamy sand.