Enhancing Phosphorus And Iron Nutrition Of Wheat Through Crop Establishment Techniques And Microbial Inoculations In Conjunction With Fertilization

Feld experiments were undertaken at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in the winter seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15. The objective of the study was to evaluate the significance of three crop establishment methods viz., conventional drill sown wheat, the system of wheat intensification, and zero tillage wheat and rates of nitrogen, phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) fertilization in conjunction with use of microbial consortia for P and iron (Fe) nutrition of wheat. The variations in P and Fe concentration and uptake in the wheat plant as well as soil NaHCO3-extractable P at different growth stages and alkaline phosphatase activity were selected to deduce the contribution of variables in the nutrition of wheat. The concentration and uptake of P and Fe were found significantly higher in zero tillage wheat with 1.3-1.4 kg ha(-1)and 195-203 g ha(-1)higher total P and Fe uptake, than conventional drill-sown wheat and system of wheat intensification. Application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients (RDN) (25.8 kg P ha(-1)and 120 kg N ha(-1)) led to significantly higher P concentration and uptake than 75% RDN and absolute control. The application ofAnabaenasp. (CR1) +Providenciasp (PR3) consortium andAnabaena-Pseudomonas(An-Ps) biofilmed formulation significantly increased P concentration in grain and straw, with an enhancement in total P uptake by 0.9-1.9 kg ha(-1)and significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity. A positive balance (0.2-2.4 kg ha(-1)) of soil NaHCO3-extractable P was recorded with the application of microbial consortia. Our study signifies the promise of microbial inoculation, along with recommended N and P fertilization and zero tillage for enhancing P and Fe nutrition of wheat.