Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management and Sowing Dates on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024–25 to evaluate the "Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management and Sowing Dates on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)." The experiment comprised three sowing dates—5th November, 15th November, and 5th December—and five integrated nutrient management (INM) practices: (1) 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) through inorganic sources, (2) 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through inorganic fertilizers + 25% nitrogen (N) through farmyard manure (FYM), (3) 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 25% N through vermicompost + ZnSO₄ @ 25 kg ha⁻¹ + sulphur @ 40 kg ha⁻¹, (4) 75% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost + ZnSO₄ @ 25 kg ha⁻¹, and (5) 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 25% N through poultry manure. Wheat sown on 15th November recorded the highest values for plant height, number of tillers per m², dry matter accumulation (g/m row), yield-attributing parameters (such as grain and straw yield), compared to the 5th December sowing. However, these values were statistically at par with those recorded under the 5th November sowing, indicating that early to mid-November is the optimal window for wheat sowing under the given agro-climatic conditions.