Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 1997-98 and 1998-9 9 on sandy-loam soil of Hisar, Haryana. The experiment consisting of 6 orga nic manures in main plots and 5 fertilizer levels in subplots was laid out in split-plot design with 3 replications. Application of organic manures ir respective of source and rate increased the dry-matter accumulation, leaf-a rea index, effective tiller number, grains/ear, grain and straw yields, pho tosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll V and carotenolds), and photosynthesis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Frori & Paol) significantly over no org anic manure during both years. Maximum values of all the attributes were ob served with vermicompost at 15 tonnes/ha which was significantly superior t o the rest of the organic manure treatments. Increasing dose of nitrogen im proved all the above-mentioned parameters of wheat. Maximum values were rec orded with the recommended dose of 120 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 + 60 kg K2O/ha. Ho wever, nitrogen at 120 and 90 kg/ha + Azotobacter were statistically at par with recommended dose of NPK. Inoculation of wheat seeds with Azotobacter chroococcum strain HT-56 also improved growth, yield, photosynthetic pigmen ts and photosynthesis of wheat during both the years.