ENHANCING EFFICIENCY OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC N FERTILIZERS SOURCES THROUGH BENEFICIAL MICROBES USING WHEAT CROP

Abstract

The use of beneficial microbes as amendment in agriculture system is a novel approach with the ability to encourage mineralization of soil organic matter which could benefit soil health and plant nutrition. The present study “Enhancing efficiency of organic and inorganic N fertilizers sources through beneficial microbes using wheat crop” was conducted at farmer field in Dargai Malakand Agency during 2008-09 and 2009-10 using randomized complete block design with four replications. The experiment was consisted of wheat varieties and N fertilizers sources. Wheat varieties were Uqab (V1) and Fakhar-e-Sarhad (V2). Fertilizers treatments were Control: 0-0-0 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 (T1) full dose of N from urea: 120-90-60 kg ha-1 N-P2O5-K2O (T2), half of recommended N from urea: 60-90-60 kg ha-1 N-P2O5-K2O (T3), 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM (T4), 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM (T5), 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) (T6), 50% N from urea + BM (T7), 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM (T8), 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM (T9), 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM (T10). Phosphorus and potassium were applied to all treatments according to the recommended doses (90-60 kg ha-1 P2O5-K2O) except control treatment as triple supper phosphate (TSP) and sulfate of potash (SOP). Urea was used as the source of inorganic nitrogen. Farmyard manure (FYM) and Poultry manure (PM) were used at the rate to get 60 kg ha-1 organic nitrogen. In case of combine application of FYM and PM, both were mixed is such way to get 30 kg N ha-1 from each source. The entire FYM, PM, Phosphorous, Potash and half N from urea were applied to all treatment except control before sowing of wheat crop and half N from urea was applied in 2nd irrigated. Beneficial microbes were applied at the rate of 25 liter ha-1 in two-split application, half in 1st irrigation and half in 3rd irrigation. Data showed that treatments receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from FYM + BM (T8) gave maximum number of tillers m-2 (345), number of spike m-2 (296), spike length (9.9 cm), plant height (91.6 cm), number of leaves tiller-1 (5.3), leaf area (23.6 cm2), leaf area index (3.94), , crop growth rate before anthesis (28.03 g m-2 d-1), crop growth rate after anthesis to maturity stage (13.70 g m-2), absolute growth rate (2.09 g d-1), bacterial population (95.7 cfu.g-1 soil x 103), fungi population (17.3 cfu.g-1 soil x 103), straw nitrogen (0.571%), grain nitrogen (1.73%), grain total nitrogen (95.41 kg ha-1), straw total nitrogen (45.224 kg ha-1), plant total nitrogen uptake (140.64 kg ha-1), soil total nitrogen (1.006 g kg-1) soil electrical conductivity (3.29 dSm-1), and soil organic matter (12.01 g kg-1 soil). Treatment T10 also showed similar trend for number of tiller m-2 (345), number of leaves tiller-1 (5.3) and number of spike m-2 (296). Similarly higher number of spike m-2 (296) were also recorded for the treatment receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from PM + BM. Likely longer spikes (9.9 cm) and maximum number of spike m-2 (296) and crop growth rate after anthesis to maturity stage (13.71 g day-1 m-2) were also counted in the plots treated with full dose of N (120 kg N ha-1 from urea). While maximum number of days to flowering (113), number of days to physiological maturity (151), number of grains spike-1 (53), grain yield (4802 kg ha-1), straw yield (8537 kg ha-1), biological yield (13339 kg ha-1), soil pH value (8.15) were noted in the treatment receiving 120 kg N ha-1 from urea. Similarly maximum number of grains spike-1 (53) were also recorded for the treatment receiving 50% N from urea + 50% N from (FYM + PM) + BM. Highest days to emergence (12), harvest index (38.0) and soil bulk density(1.443) were recorded in control treatment. Likely heavier thousand grain weight (38.8 g) and maximum soil mineral nitrogen (22.64 mg kg-1) were recorded in 50% N from urea + 50%N from (FYM + PM) + BM treatment. Comparing the relevant treatments of with and without BM, an increasing trend was noted in all the parameters with the application of BM except number of days to flowering, number of days to physiological maturity, harvest index, soil pH and soil bulk density, which decreased with the application of BM. While, a variable trend was noted in number of days to emergence, number of leaves tiller-1 and number of spikes m2 with the supplementation of BM. It was concluded that organic manures without BM failed to produce greater grain yield, straw yield and biological yield than urea alone @ 120 kg ha-1 as N, however addition of BM with organic manures produced almost the same yields as produced by urea alone @ 120 kg ha-1.as N.