Evaluation of N, P, Zn Complex Fertilizer for its Efficiency using Wheat as Test Crop in Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Soils of Northwestern India

摘要

Wheat, being the most important cereal crop is of great significance in agriculture for triggering green revolution and will also play a vital role in stabilizing national food supply in coming decades. Phosphorus is the backbone of any fertilizer management programme and plays a key role in energy related activities and development of root system (Mehta et al., 2005). Zinc has been rated as the fifth most important plant nutrient ranking behind nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur. Zinc playsan important role in sustaining yield and quality of crops and is removed by crops in large quantities. The need for applying micronutrient fertilizers to soils of Punjab was first felt with the appearance of zinc deficiency in rice and wheat. The adoption of intensive agriculture in irrigated areas involving cultivation of high yielding crop cultivars, use of high analysis macronutrient fertilizers, decreased use of organic manures and crop residues resulted in depletion of micronutrient reserves in soils due to bumper crop harvests. The deficiency of zinc is mainly associated with soils having coarse texture, high pH, low organic matter content and high calcium carbonate content in the soils (Takkar etal.,999).The efficiency of applied P rarely exceeds 30 per cent and that of Zn more than 10 per cent in the soil (Nayyar et al., 1990).Therefore, repeated application of phosphorus over the years leads to its build up and interactions in soil and/or plants affecting crop production.