Sustainable Wheat Production through Integrated Nutrient Management: Soil and Economic Perspectives

Abstract

India's food security plan relies heavily on wheat, which is grown second only to rice. But because of its heavy production with chemical fertilizers, soil health has declined, input costs have gone up, and ecological issues have arisen. A sustainable method for preserving soil fertility and raising agricultural profitability is Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which blends inorganic fertilizers, organic additions, and biofertilizers. This study assessed the effects of INM on soil health metrics and the economics of growing wheat under nine treatments using a randomized block design. It was carried out at the Agronomy Research Farm of Himgiri Zee University, Dehradun, during the Rabi season of 2023–2024. In addition to lowering pH and electrical conductivity, the results demonstrated that the combined application of 80% RDF + vermicompost (2.9 t/ha) + biofertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB) greatly increased soil organic carbon (0.58%), available nitrogen (155.25 kg/ha), and phosphorus (14.51 kg/ha), indicating improved soil health. In terms of economics, the 100% RDF treatment produced the highest net return (₹36,945/ha) and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio (1.32), even though this integrated treatment had the highest gross return (₹72,250/ha). The results emphasize that although INM promotes sustainable production and enhances soil quality, increased input costs may short-term restrict economic returns. Therefore, improving sustainability and profitability in wheat-based cropping systems requires optimizing the mix of nutrient sources.