Impact of method and levels of fertilizer application and weed management on nutrient economy and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabl) seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04 at Pusa, Bihar, to study the impact of fertilizer and weed-management practices on nutrient economy and yield of wheat (Triti- cum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). Placement of fertilizers significantly reduced weed dry biomass, NPK depletion by weed and increased yield attributes, grain and straw yields, net return, net returnlrupee investment and NPK uptake by crop than broadcast method of fertilizer. Application of 125% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (150:75:50 kg N:P:Wha) recorded significantly higher weed dry biomass, grain and straw yields, net re- turn and NPK uptake by crop than recommended (120:60:40 kg N:P:Wha) and 75% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (90:45:30 kg N:P:Wha). However, net returnlrupee investment increased significantly only up to recom- mended dose of fertilizer. Hand-weeding recorded significantly higher plant height, leaf-area index, tillers/m2, graindear, grain and straw yields than mixture of 2,4-D + isoproturon, but was at par with those recorded under sulfosulfuron. Sulfosulfuron recorded lowest weed population, weed dry biomass, NPK depletion by weed and highest weed-control efficiency. Placement of recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in significantly hlgher grain yield than broadcast of 125% of the recommended dose of fertilizer, Similarly, recommended dose of fertil- izer under weed-control treatments recorded significantly higher grain yield than 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer under weedy check. Weed-control treatments also recorded higher protein content in grain.