Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield of and Nutrient Uptake by Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Soil Properties under Intermediate Zone of Jammu and Kashmir

Field experiment was conducted for three consecutive rabi seasons (2007–08 to 2009–10) at the Crop Research Farm, RARS, SKUAST-Jammu, Rajouri, to study the effect of integrated nutrient management in wheat on yield of and nutrient uptake by wheat and soil properties. Significantly higher grain yield (4.92 t ha⁻¹) and total NPK uptake by wheat (116, 20.4 and 125 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) with the application of 100% NPK + 10 t FYM ha⁻¹ as compared to the grain yield of 4.41 t ha⁻¹ and total NPK uptake (95.7, 18.1 and 111 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) with the 100% NPK alone. The yield of and nutrient uptake by wheat were significantly lower with the sub-optimal doses of NPK. After three years conjoint use of 10 t FYM ha⁻¹ with 100% NPK significantly improved the organic carbon and available N, P and K contents over the chemical fertilizers alone. Integrated nutrient management (100% NPK + 10 t FYM ha⁻¹) maximized yields of wheat crop and improved the soil fertility in the intermediate zone of Jammu and Kashmir.