Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Uptake in Wheat as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management Practices

Abstract

During the rabi seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 a field experiment was conducted at a farmer’s field in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, to assess the influence of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices on nutrient uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L., variety HD 2967). The experiment include of 11 treatments involving combinations of the different recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF: 120 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅, and 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, and biofertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, PSB). The results reveal that INM practices markedly improved the uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in both grain and straw compared with sole application of either inorganic fertilizers or organic manures. Among all the treatments, T11 (75% RDF + 25% N through vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB) proved superior, recording the maximum nutrient uptake in grain (90.56 and 95.26 kg N ha⁻¹, 15.25 and 15.70 kg P ha⁻¹, and 30.38 and 30.62 kg K ha⁻¹ during 2019–20 and 2020–21, respectively). This treatment also indicate the highest uptake in straw, thereby reflecting an overall balanced improvement in nutrient assimilation. The next best performance was observed with treatment T10 , though it remained significantly lower than T11. When compared with the control (100% RDF), the treatment T11 treatment recorded an average increase of 18–22% in N uptake, 15–18% in P uptake, and about 12–14% in K uptake across the two years. These findings strongly reaffirm the role of integrated use of fertilizers, organic manures, and biofertilizers in improving nutrient uptake, sustaining soil fertility, and enhancing the productivity of wheat under field conditions. From a long-lasting perspective, such balanced nutrient management strategies are not only agronomically successful but also environmentally sustainable.