Nutrient management and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum)–based cropping systems in temperate zone

An experiment was carried out from winter season of 2004–05 to rainy season of 2006 at Srinagar to determine the impact of different nutrient management practices and cropping systems on growth, yield, nitrogen uptake and system productivity of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori & Paol]– based cropping systems. Treatments consisted of four fertility levels viz. recommended fertilizer dose (100 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 30 kg K₂O/ha), recommended fertilizer dose + farmyard manure 15 tonnes/ha; recommended fertilizer dose + biofertilizer and recommended fertilizer dose + farmyard manure 15 tonnes/ha + biofertilizer applied to wheat crop and six crop sequences, viz. wheat – rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat – maize (Zea mays L.); wheat – sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.); wheat – greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], wheat – soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] and wheat – Frenchbean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Combined application of recommended fertilizer dose, farmyard manure 15 tonnes/ha and biofertilizer significantly improved wheat yield and soil nutrient status. Increase in wheat yield was to the tune of 17.5 and 23.0% over the alone application of chemical fertilizer during 2004–05 and 2005–06 respectively. Wheat yield and nitrogen uptake showed significant increase when grown after pulses. Yield improvement in wheat was 11 and 10% due to legume effect of greengram and Frenchbean respectively. Wheat-rice sequence proved more productive and remunerative cropping system.