Response of black wheat to combined organic and bio-fertilizers under field conditions

Abstract

Black wheat is one of the recently developed greyish-black variety of wheat that is known to contain many healthy constituents like anthocyanins, protein, dietary fibers, iron and zinc. Like other crops, the growth, yield, and seed quality of black wheat can also be affected by the type of fertilization. The present study was conducted via a randomized block design with ten fertilizer treatment combinations of bio-fertilizers and organic manures. The specific parameters like shoot and root biomass, plant length, leaf area, chlorophyll, number of tillers and yield parameters (spike length, seed number and weight, yield per plot and total yield), as well as Crop Growth Rate, Relative Growth Rate and Net Assimilation Rate were assessed. The results demonstrated that these treatment combinations have the potential to affect the growth and yield of wheat crop. Significant effects of different treatment combinations on soil and seed properties were observed during the study. The combinations like PSB plus (3 ml l-1), Patanjali Bio-NPK plus (2 ml l-1), and Patanjali Bio Potash Plus (2 ml l-1) were found effective enough to yield the most favorable results for growth and yield variables. The treatment with Potash at 2 ml l-1 emerged as particularly noteworthy by producing the highest values in CGR, RGR, and NAR. These parameters underscore that the treatments not only accelerated biomass accumulation but also improved the efficiency of photosynthate conversion relative to leaf area and initial plant biomass. This study provides insightful information on manure efficacy and their intricate relationship with crop growth, and yield increase.