Effect of different sources of nutrient management practices on grain quality, nutrient uptake and soil fertility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Introduction

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world's principal cereal crops and its productivity as well as grain quality are strongly influenced by nutrient availability and balanced fertilization strategies (Yu, 2025) [1] . Nutrient management is a key agronomic factor that affects not only crop yield and quality but also nutrient uptake efficiency and soil fertility status (Yu, 2025; Gund et al., 2022) [1,2] . Conventional reliance on sole inorganic fertilizers often results in nutrient imbalances, reduced nutrient use efficiency and progressive declines in soil fertility (Yu, 2025) [1] . Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), involving combined application of inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments and micronutrients, has been proposed as an effective approach to enhance nutrient availability, crop performance and soil health (Sharma & Tomar, 2025) [3] . Several field studies have demonstrated that INM significantly improves wheat growth, grain protein content, nutrient uptake and soil fertility relative to control or sole fertilizer treatments. For example, combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic amendments and micronutrients increased protein concentration and grain yield while improving soil nutrient pools (Sharma & Tomar, 2025) [3] . Field experiments have also reported substantial increases in uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in wheat under integrated nutrient regimes relative to unfertilized controls (Chesti, Kohli & Sharma, 2013) [4] . Additionally, the inclusion of organic sources such as farmyard manure or vermicompost alongside inorganic fertilizers has been shown to enhance nutrient use efficiency and post-harvest soil fertility (Gund et al., 2022) [2] . Field experiments conducted under alluvial soil conditions demonstrated that the combined use of organic manures such as farmyard manure and vermicompost with chemical fertilizers significantly increased the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and zinc by wheat, while also improving post-harvest soil nutrient pools compared with control treatments (Singh, 2019) [5] . Despite these findings, the effects of high levels of combined macro-, secondary and micronutrients with organic manure on wheat grain quality, multi-nutrient uptake and soil fertility under specific field conditions remain inadequately quantified. Therefore, systematic evaluation of integrated nutrient management practices is necessary to optimize nutrient strategies for improving wheat grain quality, nutrient uptake and sustaining soil fertility.

Materials and Methods

The experimental field was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with eight treatments and three replications. Treatments were applied as follows: T₁ (Control), T₂ (10 t FYM ha⁻¹), T₃ (120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹), T₄ (120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ + 10 t FYM ha⁻¹), T₅ (120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ + 20 kg S ha⁻¹), T₆ (120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ + 5 kg Zn ha⁻¹), T₇ (120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ + 20 kg S + 5 kg Zn + 10 t FYM ha⁻¹), and T₈ (150 kg N + 90 kg P₂O₅ + 60 kg K₂O ha⁻¹). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was sown at recommended seed rate and basal nutrients were applied according to treatment specifications. At harvest, grain and straw samples were ovendried at 65±2 °C to constant weight and ground for analysis. Grain protein content (%) was calculated as % N×6.25 (Jones et al, 1991) [6] and protein yield (qha⁻¹) was computed as [protein content (%)× grain yield (qha⁻¹)] / 100. Nitrogen content was determined by Kjeldahl method (Bremner, 1965) [7] , phosphorus by vanado-molybdate yellow colour method (Jackson, 1973) [8] , potassium by flame photometry, sulphur turbidimetrically, and zinc concentration using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet digestion (Wolf, 1971) [9] . Nutrient uptake (kg ha⁻¹ for N, P, K, S; g ha ¹ for Zn) was calculated as nutrient concentration (%) × corresponding dry matter⁻ yield (kg ha ¹) (Giller 2001) [10] . Post-harvest soil samples were air-dried, sieved (2 mm) and⁻ analyzed for available N by alkaline permanganate (Subbiah & Asija, 1956), available P by Olsen's method (Olsen et al., 1954) [11] , available K by neutral ammonium acetate extraction (Jackson, 1973) [8] , available S turbidimetrically, and available Zn by DTPA extraction followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Lindsay & Norvell, 1978) [12] . Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for randomized block design and treatment differences were tested at P≤0.05 using critical difference (CD) values (Gomez & Gomez, 1984) [13] .

Result and Discussion

Protein content and yield Protein content in grain and straw, as well as protein yield, increased significantly with nutrient management practices compared to control (Table 1). The lowest grain protein content (11.87%) and protein yield (370.0qha⁻¹) were recorded under control, while all fertilized treatments showed improvement. The highest grain protein content was recorded under T₈ (13.37%), closely followed by T 7 (13.25%). However, protein yield was marginally higher under T 7 (736.3 q ha ¹) compared to⁻ T₈ (723.1 q ha ¹), indicating the advantage of integrated⁻ nutrient management in enhancing total protein production. The improvement in protein content and yield under integrated and higher fertilizer treatments may be attributed to enhanced nitrogen availability and its efficient assimilation into amino acids and proteins. The presence of sulphur further supports protein synthesis, while zinc plays a key role in enzyme activation and nitrogen metabolism, ultimately improving grain quality and protein accumulation. Similar findings in wheat have been reported by Paramesh et al. (2020) [14] and Singh (2019) [5] .

Nitrogen content and uptake

Nitrogen content in grain and straw, as well as nitrogen uptake, was significantly influenced by nutrient management practices (Table 2). The lowest nitrogen content in grain (1.90%) and straw (0.57%) along with minimum nitrogen uptake was recorded under control. Application of recommended NPK and integrated nutrient treatments improved nitrogen concentration and uptake in both grain and straw over control. The highest nitrogen content in grain (2.14%) and straw (0.73%) was recorded under T₈, closely followed by T₇. However, nitrogen uptake in grain (117.8 kg ha ¹) and straw (49.0kgha⁻¹) was slightly higher under T 7 compared to T₈, indicating better nutrient use efficiency under integrated nutrient management. The increase in nitrogen content and uptake may be attributed to increased nitrogen availability in soil, improved root activity and better assimilation of nitrogen into plant tissues. The presence of FYM enhances nutrient retention and mineralization, while sulphur and zinc play a key role in nitrogen metabolism and enzyme activation, thereby improving uptake efficiency. Similar results in wheat have been reported by Singh et al. (2019) [5] and Kumar et al. (2023a) [15] .

Phosphorus content and uptake

Phosphorus content in grain and straw, along with phosphorus uptake, was significantly influenced by nutrient management practices (Table 3). The lowest phosphorus content in grain (0.21%) and straw (0.10%) and minimum uptake was recorded under control. All fertilized treatments improved phosphorus concentration and uptake over control, indicating better nutrient availability and assimilation. The highest phosphorus content in grain (0.28%) and straw (0.18%) was recorded under T₇, whereas T₈ remained statistically comparable. Similarly, maximum phosphorus uptake in grain (15.5 kg ha ¹) and straw (12.2 kg ha ¹) was observed under T₇, followed by T₈ (14.6 and 11.2 kg ha ¹, respectively). This indicates that integrated nutrient management slightly improved phosphorus uptake efficiency compared to higher fertilizer dose alone. The improvement in phosphorus status may be attributed to enhanced root proliferation, better soil microbial activity and improved phosphorus solubilization in the presence of FYM. Organic acids released during decomposition of FYM help in reducing phosphorus fixation, thereby increasing its availability to plants. Sulphur and zinc also contribute indirectly by improving root growth and metabolic activity, leading to higher nutrient uptake. Similar results in wheat have been reported by Singh et al. (2019) [5] and Paramesh et al. (2020) [14] .

Potassium content and uptake

Potassium content in grain and straw, along with potassium uptake, was significantly influenced by nutrient management practices (Table 4). The lowest values were recorded under control, indicating poor nutrient supply and uptake under unfertilized conditions. All fertilized treatments improved potassium concentration and uptake in both grain and straw.

The highest potassium content in grain (0.70%) and straw

(2.16%) was recorded under T₇, which was statistically at par with T₈. Similarly, maximum potassium uptake in grain (38.9kg ha⁻¹) and straw (147.1 kg ha ¹) was observed under T₇, followed closely by T₈. This indicates slightly better nutrient use efficiency under integrated nutrient management compared to higher RDF alone. The improvement in potassium status may be attributed to enhanced root growth, improved soil biological activity and better nutrient availability under FYM application. Organic manure improves soil cation exchange capacity, thereby enhancing potassium retention and uptake. Similar findings in wheat have been reported by Singh et al. (2019) [5] and Kumar et al. (2023a) [15] .

Sulphur content and uptake

Sulphur content in grain and straw, along with sulphur uptake, was significantly affected by nutrient management practices (Table 5). The lowest values were recorded under control, while all fertilized treatments showed improvement. The highest sulphur content in grain (0.31%) and straw (0.17%) was recorded under T₇, which was comparable with T 8 . Similarly, maximum sulphur uptake in grain (17.2 kg ha⁻¹) and straw (11.5 kg ha⁻¹) was also observed under T₇, followed closely by T₈.

Highest sulphur content and uptake may be attributed to direct sulphur application along with FYM-induced enhancement of nutrient availability and microbial activity. Similar results in wheat have been reported by Singh et al. (2019) [5] .

Zinc content and uptake

Zinc content in grain and straw, along with zinc uptake, was significantly influenced by nutrient management practices (Table 6). The lowest values were recorded under control, while all fertilized treatments showed improvement. The highest zinc content in grain (36.5 mg kg⁻¹) and straw (25.0 mg kg⁻¹) was observed under⁻ T₇, whereas T₇ also recorded maximum zinc uptake in grain (202.8gha⁻¹) and straw (170.2 g ha⁻¹), followed closely by T₈. The improvement in zinc status may be attributed to direct zinc application along with FYMmediated enhancement of micronutrient availability and reduced soil fixation. Similar findings in wheat have been reported by Kumar et al. (2023b) [16] and Singh et al. (2019) [5] . [5] and Kumar et al. (2023a) [15] .

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that nutrient management practices markedly influence protein status, nutrient uptake and postharvest nutrient availability in wheat. Application of balanced fertilization along with FYM, sulphur and zinc significantly improved protein content in grain and straw, enhanced uptake of N, P, K, S and Zn, and improved soil nutrient availability compared to control. Although T₈ recorded the highest grain protein content, T₇ performed comparably and showed relatively higher nutrient uptake along with better nutrient availability in soil. This indicates that integrated nutrient management ensures efficient nutrient utilization while maintaining soil fertility, and can serve as a more sustainable option for improving nutritional quality and soil health in wheat-based cropping systems.

References

1. Yu S. Integrated Nutrient Management in Wheat Farming. Molecular Soil Biology. 2025; 16.
2. Gund HB, Ghodpage RM, Mairan NR, Kausadikar PH, Mareddy N, Gaikwad SY. Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Nutritional Quality, Uptake and Yield of Wheat in Vertisol. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science. 2022;34(24):614-619.
3. Sharma AK, Tomar TS. Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International. 2025;47(7):301-312.
4. Chesti MH, Kohli A, Sharma AK. Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield of and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soil properties under intermediate zone of Jammu and Kashmir. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science. 2013;61(1):1-6.
5. Singh SP. Effect of integrated nutrient management on wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility status in alluvial soil. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2019;89(6):929-33.
6. Jones JB, Wolf B, Mills HA. Plant analysis handbook. Micro. Macro Publishing, Inc. Georgia, 30607. 1991:1107-1120.
7. Bremner JM. Total nitrogen. Methods of soil analysis: part 2 chemical and microbiological properties. 1965;9:1149-1178.
8. Jackson ML. Soil Chemical Analysis, 2nd Ed. Prentice-Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA. 1973.
9. Wolf B. The determination of boron in soil extracts, plant materials, composts, manures, water and nutrient solutions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 1971;2(5):363-374.
10. Giller KE. Nitrogen fixation in tropical cropping systems. Cabi. 2001.
11. Olsen SR. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate (No. 939). US Department of Agriculture. 1954.
12. Lindsay WL, Norvell W. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil science society of America journal. 1978;42(3):421-428.
13. Gomez KA, Gomez AA. Statistical procedures for agricultural research. John wiley & sons. 1984.
14. Paramesh V, Dhar S, Dass A, Kumar B, Kumar A, El-Ansary DO, et al. Role of integrated nutrient management and agronomic fortification of zinc on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of wheat. Sustainability. 2020;12(9):3513.
15. Kumar R, Siddiqui MZ, Teotia V, Dhanker A, Naresh R, Khan N. Performance of Integrated Nutrient Management and Foliar Spray of Micronutrients on Growth, Yield Attribute and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023;13(11):241-248.
16. Kumar U, Kumar S, Kumar N, Yadav R, Pandey P, Kumar S, et al. Response of graded fertility levels and zinc application method with and without farm yard manure on physicochemical and biological properties of soil under rice crop. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science. 2023;35(20):1113-1123.
17. Subbaiah BV, Asija GL. A rapid procedure for the estimation of available nitrogen in soil. Current Science. 1956; 25:258260.