Growth, nutrient uptake and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as influenced by biofertilizers and nitrogen

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1999–2000 and 2000–01 at research farm, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, R.S. Pura, Jammu, to study the effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen levels on growth, yield attributes, yield and nitroigen-use efficiency of ‘PBW 343’ wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol). Combined inoculation of Azotobacter + Azospirillum in 1: 1 ratio increased the growth, yield attributes and yield significantly. The nitrogen-use efficiency values also were higher. Each unit increase in N level led to significant increase in growth, yield-attributing characters and yield of wheat. The maximum grain yield (53.55 q/ha) was recorded with highest N level. The nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), apparent N recovery (%), nitrogen-efficiency ratio (NER) and physiological efficiency index of absorbed nitrogen (PEIN) were higher up to 80 kg N/ha and thereafter decreased with increasing N level.