Effect of integrated nutrients management on yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

Nutrient management continues to be one of the most critical challenges in wheat-producing regions, as improper or imbalanced nutrient application often leads to poor soil health and suboptimal grain quality, ultimately affecting crop productivity and profitability. In order to address these issues, a comprehensive field experiment was conducted over two consecutive Rabi seasons, namely 2021-22 and 2022-23, at the Student Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient sources on the physico-chemical properties of soil as well as on the qualitative attributes of wheat, using pooled data from both years to ensure consistency and reliability of the results. The experiment was laid out following a randomized block design, comprising three distinct nutrient management treatments with three replications to minimize experimental error and enhance statistical validity. The findings of the study clearly indicated that the integrated application of 100% recommended doses of NPK fertilizers in combination with sulphur (40 kg ha-1), zinc (5 kg ha-1), iron (10 kg ha-1), biofertilizers such as Azotobacter and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), along with farmyard manure at the rate of 5 tonnes ha-1, significantly improved wheat growth, yield attributes, grain yield, and overall economic returns. This integrated nutrient management approach proved to be superior to other treatments by enhancing nutrient availability, improving soil fertility status, and promoting sustainable wheat production across both years of experimentation.