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RESPONSE OF WHEAT GROWTH AND YIELD TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF COMPOST AND ORGANIC MANURE

MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM^1*, ANWAR-UL-HASSAN¹, MUHAMMAD IQBAL¹ AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM²

Abstract: Organic manures are traditionally used for supplying plant nutrients. Their volume and other operational problems forced the farmers to use inorganic fertilizers. The recycling of organic waste is considered one of the major solutions to get rid of huge piles of wastes. The product obtained provides nutrients in an efficient way along with improving the soil conditions. Because the current practice of using inorganic fertilizers may not fulfil and maintain the soil quality needed for sustainable crop productivity. The impact of organic manure and compost on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Inqlab-91) was investigated in sandy clay loam soil. The amounts of various organic manures to supplement the inorganic fertilizers must be optimized to increase crop yield. Changes in growth and yield parameters of wheat relative to inorganically fertilized controls were measured. Organic amendments had positive but variable effects. The organic manures application increased the wheat yield by 11.13 (105 %) to 13.53 (128 %) g pot^–1, relative to the control. The wheat plant height, number of tillers, spike length, straw yield, grain yield and 1000-grain weight all were statistically different from that of control. The findings of the trial suggested that crop productivity may be improved significantly by the application of various organic manures for longer time. Hence, instead of using inorganic chemical fertilizer alone, the integrated use could be more effective and sustainable for environment and agriculture.

¹Inst. Soil & Environ. Sci., University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan.

²Public Private Partnership Unit (PPPU), Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi-74200, Pakistan.