Effect of Chemical Nitrogen and Compost Rates on Wheat Productivity and Soil Properties at District Sriganganagar of Rajasthan

Abstract

Two field experiments were conduct at the Experimental site with the help of agriculture research Centre Sriganganagar Rajasthan, during season 2020-2021and 2021-2022 to study the effect of chemical nitrogen rate (0, 30, 60 kg N/fed.) and compost rates application (0,1.5, 3 ton /fed.) and its interaction on productivity of the wheat Raj-3077 and soil properties. Treatments were arranged in split plot design with three replicates (the main plots included chemical nitrogen. while, compost rates were allocated at the sub plots). The results revealed that increasing chemical nitrogen rates from 0 to 60 kg N/fed. significantly increased plant dry weight/m2, plant height, number of tillers and spikes/m2, number of grains /spike, weight of 1000-grain, grain and straw yield/ fed. and grain protein content in both seasons. Application of 60 kg N/fed. recorded the highest values for all previous studied traits compared with untreated plants (control treatment) which gave the lowest values. compost rates recorded significant differences for all studied traits of wheat as plant dry weight/m2, leaf area index, plant height, number of tillers and spikes/m2, number of grains/spike, weight of 1000-grains, grain yield, straw yield and grain protein content in both seasons except for dry weight in the first season; The application of 3 t/fed. recorded the greatest significant values for all previous studied traits compared with the untreated control treatment which showed the lowest values. The interaction between chemical nitrogen and compost rates application had a significant effect on plant dry weight/m2, leaf area index, plant height, number of tillers and spikes/m2, number of grains /spike, weight of 1000-grains, grain and straw yield in both seasons, with exception of plant dry weight/m2 in the first season and the grain protein content in both seasons. Application of 60 kg N/fed. + 3 t compost /fed. gave the highest significant value of plant height, number of tillers and spikes/ m2, weight of 1000 grain and grain yield/fed. without significant differences between them. The highest significant values of grain yield in both seasons and straw yield in the second season were achieved by 60 kg N/fed. + 3 t compost /fed. followed by 30 kg N/fed. + 1.5 t compost /fed. Soil salinity (ECe) and saturation hydraulic conductivity (Ks) as well as available N, P, and K in the soil were significantly increased with increasing N rates applied generally up to 60 kg N/fed., while soil pH and bulk density (ρa) were not significantly affected in the two seasons. Saturation hydraulic conductivity (Ks) as well as available N, P, and K in the soil were significantly increased with increasing compost rate applied generally up to 3 ton/fed., while soil salinity, pH and bulk density were significantly decreased in the two seasons Finally, adding compost at rate of 3 t/fed. resulting in the improvement of soil properties. From the results and under the conditions of this study, it could be concluded that application of 60 kg N/fed. combined with compost at rate 3 t/fed producing the highest grain and straw yields.