Sustainable phosphorus management in wheat (Triticum aestivum): Synergistic effects of humic acid and phosphate solubilising bacteria on yield, uptake and profitability

SK ASRAFUL  ALI; VIPIN CHANDRA  DHYANI; SUMIT  CHATURVEDI; TONY MANOJ KUMAR  NANDIPAMU; NILUTPAL  SAIKIA; SUNIL KUMAR  PRAJAPATI; TWINKLE  JENA; PARMESWAR  DAYAL; PRINCE  KUMAR; SHIV VENDRA  SINGH; SUSHREE SWETALIKA  SAHOO; SHASHANK SHEKHER  SINGH

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i8.176893

Authors

SK ASRAFUL ALI ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
VIPIN CHANDRA DHYANI Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India
SUMIT CHATURVEDI Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India
TONY MANOJ KUMAR NANDIPAMU Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India
NILUTPAL SAIKIA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
SUNIL KUMAR PRAJAPATI ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
TWINKLE JENA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
PARMESWAR DAYAL ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
PRINCE KUMAR ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
SHIV VENDRA SINGH Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
SUSHREE SWETALIKA SAHOO Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu & Kashmir, India
SHASHANK SHEKHER SINGH Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Bihar, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i8.176893

Keywords:

Humic acid, Phosphate solubilising bacteria, Phosphorus use efficiency, Sustainable nutrient management

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and productivity. However, indiscriminate use of P fertilisers poses environmental and economic challenges. To address this, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of humic acid (HA) and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) in enhancing phosphorus use efficiency under reduced phosphorus fertilisation. The experiment comprised three phosphorus levels (control, 50%, and 100%, corresponding to 0, 30, and 60 kg of P₂O₅/ha) and four phosphate solubiliser treatments (control, HA @10 kg/ha, PSB biofertiliser @10 g/kg seed, and HA @10 kg/ha + PSB biofertiliser @10 g/kg seed) arranged in a factorial randomised block design (F-RBD) with three replications. Application of 100% phosphorus recorded the highest plant height (98.8 cm), tiller number (390.8/m²), dry matter accumulation (890.5 g/m²), spike count (366.7/m²), grain yield (5.48 t/ha), straw yield (9.15 t/ha), total phosphorus uptake (41.45 kg/ha), gross returns (₹136.71 × 10³/ha), and net returns (₹97.35 × 10³/ha). Among phosphate solubiliser treatments, HA + PSB significantly improved plant height (96.3 cm), tiller number (362.4/m²), dry matter accumulation (879.3 g/m²), spike count (342.7/ m²), grain yield (5.10 t/ha), straw yield (8.60 t/ha), and total phosphorus uptake (37.22 kg/ha). A significant interaction between phosphorus levels and phosphate solubilisers was observed for spike count, grain yield, and straw yield. Notably, 50% phosphorus combined with HA + PSB produced 331.0 spikes/m², 4.97 t/ha grain yield, and 8.47 t/ ha straw yield, which were statistically comparable to the sole application of 100% phosphorus (338.0 spikes/m², 5.09 t/ha grain yield, and 8.91 t/ha straw yield). The results demonstrate that integration of HA and PSB can reduce phosphorus fertiliser requirements by 50% without significant yield reduction, thereby improving phosphorus use efficiency and supporting economically viable and environmentally sustainable wheat production.

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