Wheat production and partial nitrogen budget in response to herbicide and nitrogen application

Abstract

Managing nitrogen (N) inputs to sustain yields benefits while minimizing N losses is an important agronomic approach. The effect of affinity herbicides (H) (i.e., 0, 1, 2, and 3 kg/ha) and N treatments (Unfertilized, 0:100, 33:67, 67:33, and 100:0% N derived from FYM:Urea, respectively to supplies 120 kg N/ha) on N balance and wheat production was studied. Plant height and yield was improved with 2 kg H/ha. Soil N increased with fertilization in proportion to the amount of added manure coupled with yield improvement. The N removal in 100% urea represented a positive N balance (+1.5 kg N/ha) and losses, whereas FYM/urea showed negative N balances (−18.4 to −68.5 kg/ha) and conservation. This study demonstrated the importance of N sources for evaluating the potential N losses and significance of FYM usage for reducing the losses of N into the ecosystem.

Keywords:

• Nitrogen balance
• nitrogen fertilization
• manure
• herbicides
• wheat growth

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to The University of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan for provision of land, and other research facilities for completing this task. We are also thankful to HEC for their financial support which enable us to complete this research. The AF had conducted the field experiment, and submitted her master thesis as degree requirement, AK had drafted this manuscript and also supervised her for completing this project, AA conducted lab analysis, SK helped in field management and data collection, ASK proofread and revised the manuscript, HA conceived the data, and finalized the data presentation. We are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers and editor who had spare their specious time and improved the clarity of our manuscript.