Farmer’s fertilizer practices in wheat: A case study for high yield in north western plain zone

Abstract

A total of 100 farmers from Karnal district of Haryana were chosen for a study and their soils were analysed and fertilizer practices and yields in wheat were recorded. The results indicate that 27% of farmers are applying a low amount of nitrogen (while the remaining 71% of farmers are applying a higher amount of nitrogen), and all farmers are applying a lower quantity of phosphorus (P2O5) and no potassium (K) compared to the recommended fertilizer levels (150-60-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha). Farmers tended to apply higher nitrogen levels in the hopes of achieving greater yields. However, this leads to lodging, where the crop bends or falls over during the last irrigation or rainstorms, resulting in reduced yields. As a consequence, the cost of cultivation increases, and the profit margin is decreased. To address this problem, multilocation trials were conducted to develop a strategy for achieving higher wheat yields in the north western plain zone (NWPZ). The results revealed that early sowing (last week of October) coupled with 150% of RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers) and 15 tonnes FYM/ha (farm yield manure) and two sprays of 0.2% CCC+0.1% tebuconazole at first node and flag leaf stage produced 10% higher grain yield (67.19 q/ha) owing to 10.9% increase in earhead/m2 and 7% biomass and simultaneously reducing 10% plant height. This technology will reduce the lodging to a great extent which is a burning problem under high N and irrigated conditions.