Growth Response of Wheat as Affected by Different Nutrient Sources and NPK Levels under Vertisols

Growth analysis such as crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area index (LAI) and net assimilation rate (NAR) are the most important traits in prediction of yield. Keeping in this view a field experiment was conducted to estimate growth response of wheat as affected by different nutrient sources and NPK levels under Vertisols in split plot design with 3 replications at the experimental field of JNKVV, Jabalpur during winter (Rabi) 2019. The treatment comprised of 3 sources of nutrient M1- Inorganic sources (NPK fertilizers), M2- organic sources (FYM, vermicompost, biofertilizers Azotobacter and PSB) and M3- Integrated sources (50% Inorganic + 50% organic) as main treatments and 5 NPK levels S1- control, S2- 100% RDF, S3- 150% RDF, S4- 200% RDF, S5- Based on soil test value (STV) for target yield of 6 t ha-1 as sub treatments were replicated thrice. The results showed that among the different sources of nutrients, maximum growth responses was found with inorganic sources of nutrient, which was significant over organic sources of nutrient followed by integrated sources of nutrient. All the growth characters (LAI, NAR, RGR and NAR) were higher at high fertility (200% RDF) which was found significant over 100% RDF and STV based value and at par with 150% RDF. Thus, from the present investigation concluded that the adequate supply of plant nutrient in inorganic sources with 150% RDF levels helps in better growth of wheat which ultimately helps in higher yield.