Utilization of fertilizer, soil and plant accumulated nitrogen by wheat

Three fields previously sown with Bajra, Alfalfa and left fallow in summerwere selected in the experiment. Randomized complete block design was usedin experiment. Crop residues (leguminous/non- leguminous) and N fertilizerwere randomly allotted to the plots replicated four times in each field. Eachplot was consist of 5x3 m2. Statistical analysis of the data showed that fieldand crop residue had significant effect on days to emergence. The earliestemergence was recorded in fallow field while delayed in Bajra field. Plotssupplied with chemical fertilizer had quicker emergence compared to thecontrol plots. It also affect the number of plants emerged per unit area. Thehighest emergence was observed in that field, which was kept fallow insummer. The lowest plant emergence/m2 was recorded in that field previouslysown with Bajra in the summer season. Plots amended with soybean residueproduced the highest number of plants/m2, while control plots had the lowestseedling per unit area. Wheat took maximum days to produce flowers whensown in Bajra field, while minimum from alfalfa and fallow field. The highestdays to flowering was recorded in plots amended with soybean residue. Fieldand crop residue had significant effect on plant height. The tallest plantswere observed in the fallow fields followed by alfalfa field. Spike/m2 weresignificantly affected by field and crop residue. The highest spike populationwas recorded in the fallow land while lowest from Bajra field. The highestgrains per spike were collected for wheat when sown on fallow land. Bajrafield produces the lowest number of grain per spike. Field and crop residuehad a significant effect on 1000-grain weight. The heaviest grains wererecorded from fallow field. Soybean residue incorporated plots producedheavier grains, while low weight of grains was recorded for wheat strawincorporated plots. The highest biological yield were observed from fallowfield, while the lowest was recorded from Bajra field. Grain yield wassignificantly affected by the field status and crop residue incorporation.Summer fallow field produced the highest grain yield. While the lowest grainyield was observed from Bajra field. Average basis, residue amended plotproduce more grain yield than fertilizer applied plots. Among residues,soybean treatment had the best results in term of grain yield. Lowest grainfield was recorded from control treatment. Harvest index was higher for cropwhen sown in fallow field and lowest for Bajra field. Nitrogen treatmentsenhanced the harvest index compare to control plots. Analysis of variance ofthe data revealed that field and crop residue had significant effect onnitrogen content of the grain. The highest nitrogen contents in grain wereobserved from fallow field while the lowest N-concentration was recorded fromBajra field. Generally the soybean amended plot enable plant to accumulatedhigher N in grain. Total N-offtake by wheat grain in its growing season wassignificantly affect by field status and residue incorporation. The highest N-offtake was recorded in that field which was kept fallow in summer. While thelowest was observed in that field previously sown with Bajra in summerseason. The best N-utilization efficiency in term of total grain N-offtake wasobserved from legumes residue amended treatment. In cropping system, fallowfield showed best results in term of grain yield as well as N-utilizationefficiency compared to the fields previously occupied by legumes or grainfodder. For N-source comparison, legume residue incorporation returned bettergrain yield and provided N- nutrients throughout the growing season compareto chemical fertilizer.