Unraveling the potential of nutrient solubilizing microbial consortium and chemical fertilizers in enhancing the productivity and profitability of wheat under irrigated condition
Microbial consortium for wheat productivity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v13i02.15286Keywords:
Bio-NPK , Fertilizers , Wheat , Productivity , ProfitabilityAbstract
Sustainable wheat production requires innovative and efficient nutrient management strategies that enhance productivity while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Nutrient-solubilizing microbial consortia (Bio-NPK) have emerged as promising inputs capable of enhancing nutrient availability, nutrient-use efficiency, and crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2021–22 at ICAR-IARI Regional Station, Pusa, Samastipur Bihar, India, to evaluate the effect of a nutrient-solubilizing microbial consortium (Bio-NPK) and different levels of inorganic fertilizers on the growth, productivity, and profitability of wheat. The combined application of 100% recommended NPK + seed treatment with Bio-NPK produced the highest plant stand (470.2 plants m⁻²), plant height (102.6 cm), earhead density (199.4 m⁻²), spike length (34.8 cm), and grains per spike (64.7), grain yield (4.47 t ha⁻¹) and biomass production (10.50 t ha⁻¹) representing substantial improvements over the absolute control. The treatment receiving 75% recommended NPK + seed treatment with Bio-NPK produced a grain yield of 4.20 t ha⁻¹, which was statistically comparable with the yield obtained under 100% recommended NPK alone (4.36 t ha⁻¹), indicating the potential to reduce fertilizer application by 25% without significant yield loss. The highest gross return (₹126,247 ha⁻¹) and net return (₹86,636 ha⁻¹) were obtained with 100% recommended NPK + seed treatment with Bio-NPK. Our findings highlighted that integrating nutrient-solubilizing microbial consortia with balanced chemical fertilizers application can substantially enhance wheat productivity and profitability under irrigated conditions.
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