Amelioration of Vermicompost and Inorganic Fertilizer on Late-Sown Wheat Productivity

Abstract

Wheat is the major staple food source worldwide. Due to the excessive use of inorganic fertilizer and unbalanced fertilization, the quality and productivity of soil, as well as the grains are reducing. So, there is a need to apply a balanced mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers to maintain a sustainable yield that helps to feed the ever-increasing population. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 14 treatments of three replicates. The treatments were as follows: T1; control, T2; Vermicompost (VC) (2.0 t.ha-1), T3; VC (4.0 t.ha-1), T4; VC (6.0 ton.ha-1), T5; RDF (100%), T6; VC (2.0 t.ha-1 + 75% RDF), T7; VC (2.0 t.ha-1 +100% RDF), T8; VC (2.0 t.ha-1 + 125% RDF), T9; VC (4.0 t.ha-1 +75% RDF), T10 VC (4.0 t.ha-1 + 100% RDF), T11; VC (4.0 t.ha-1 + 125% RDF), T12; VC (6.0 t.ha-1 + 75% RDF), T13; VC (6.0 t.ha-1 +100% RDF), and T14; VC (6.0 t.ha-1 +125% RDF). The results revealed that the treatment T14 gave significantly better growth parameters and yield contributing characters with the highest grain and straw yield (4.38 t.ha-1 and 7.13 t/ha, respectively) compared to others. The minimum grain yield (2.74 t.ha-1) and straw yield (4.80 t.ha-1) were recorded under treatment T1 (control).