2024, Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part H

author(s)
Shweta, Ishwar Singh, RK Behl, Devi Singh, OP Mehla and Gajraj Yadav

abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Research farm of the Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala during Rabi season of 2023 to determine the “Effect of enhanced doses of Phosphatic and Zinc fertilizers over recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) on grain yield and its attributes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications and four treatments applied to three wheat varieties DBW187, HD3226 and WH1270. The treatments were control (T₁), (T₂) 100% RDF (recommended doses of fertilizers) i.e., Nitrogen-150 kg/ha through Urea (50% basal dose + urea 25% at after 25 days of sowing + 25% at pre flowering), Phosphorus- 60 kg/ha through SSP (100% basal dose), Potassium- 60 kg/ha through Muriate of Potash (100% as basal dose) and ZnSo₄-25 kg/ha, (T₃) 25% higher ZnSo₄ + RDF, (T₄) 25% higher P₂O₅ + RDF. The data was recorded on plant growth parameters, grain yield and its components namely plant height, dry weight accumulation per meter row length, total no. of tillers per running meter row length, number of spikes per meter row length, number of grains per spike, 1000 grains weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield. Indices namely harvest index, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio were computed. The comparative evaluation of various treatments revealed that 25% enhanced doses of phosphatic and zinc fertilizers gave good response and higher yield as compared to RDF. The increase in yield due to application of 25% higher phosphorous (56.02 q/ha) as well as zinc (54.54 q/ha) was significantly higher over RDF (52.11 q/ha) and control (30.74 q/ha). Treatment T₄ showed highest gross returns (Rs. 162055.5/ha) and net returns (Rs.95,238/ha) as well as higher benefit cost ratio (2.42).