Integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen on yield andnitrogen nutrition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effect of mineral N as urea (46% N) and organic N as Sesbaniaaculeate, L (3% N) at 80 kg ha-1 alone and in various combination onthe yield, yield component and N nutrition of wheat crop (cv. Fakhar-e-Sarhad) was investigated in a pot culture experiment in the presenceof basal dressing of phosphorus (P2O5) applied at 60 kg ha-1 assuperphosphate (18% P2O5) and potash (K2O) applied at 40 kg ha-1 assulphate of potash (50% K2O). The results revealed that all doses ofmineral and organic N at 80 Kg ha- 1 alone and in combinationsignificantly improved the plant height, number of tillers, spike/plantand yield of wheat crop. The increase in grain yield varied from 39.0to 87.0 percent, straw yield from 21.0 to 60.0 percent, total biomassyield from 15.0 to 53.0 percent, grain N uptake by 49.0 to 103.0percent, straw N uptake by 62.0 to 138.0 percent and biomass N uptakeby 13.0 to 88.0 percent. Combination of mineral N and organic N at70+10; 60+20; 50+30; 40+40 kg ha-1 being of equal and first statisticalrank were giving equivalent response to 80 kg ha-1 of mineral N, sofar as yield and N uptake by crop was concerned. Combination doses ofmineral and organic N at 30+50; 20+60; 10+70 kg ha-1 givingstatistically equal yield and N uptake response were of secondstatistical rank, 80 kg ha-1 of organic N was of third statistical rankso far as yield and N uptake response of wheat crop was concerned. Inthe light of the statistical analysis, it is inferred that combinationdoses of mineral and organic N at 40+40; 50+30; 60+20 kg ha-1 being ofequal statistical rank can be the best doses of first, second and thirdpreference order giving an equivalent yield response to 80 kg urea,while combination doses of 50+30; 60+20 and 70+10 kg ha-1 being ofsecond statistical rank were of fourth, fifth and sixth preference orderin the experiment. 80 kg ha-1 of N alone being of third statistical rankorder was of lowest preference order.