Balanced use of fertilizers and FYM to enhance nutrient recovery and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv UP-2382) in a Mollisol of Uttarakhand

A soil test crop response trial was conducted on Mollisol (fine mixed loamy hyperthermic aquic hapludoll) in G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand with wheat (var. UP-2382) and the comparative efficiency of different levels of organic and inorganic nutrients and their impact on yield, uptake and their efficiency have been studied. The effect of fertilizers indicated that grain and straw yields of wheat were increased more prominently with the addition of 150 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅, 50 kg K₂O and 5 t of FYM ha⁻¹. The same combination of nutrient provided highest nutrient recovery (19.8, 9.9, 24.0%) and return (8.60, 3.23, 8.40 Rs.Re⁻¹). However, increased level of N-P₂O₅-K₂O never ensured for increased nutrient efficiency, as they manifested highest value at lowest doses (100 kg N, 30 kg P₂O₅ and 25 kg K₂O ha⁻¹). FYM incorporation along with inorganic nutrients considerably enhanced the yield and nutrient uptake and hence highest nutrient recovery and economic return obtained by application of 5 t of FYM ha⁻¹ under INM. Added fertilizer nutrients in combination with organic nutrients showed its positive effect in enhancing the fertilizer use efficiency/recovery and economy.