Validation of soil test based fertilizer prescription models for specific yield target of wheat on an Inceptisols of Haryana

The studies on STCR-IPNS for desired yield targets were conducted on wheat crop at 12 farmers’ field during rabi 2016-17 to 2018-19 in semiarid sub humid climate on an Inceptispols of Haryana to verify the fertilizer prescription models over the available technology and to analyze the economics of the adoption of these models to enhance the productivity and profitability of the crop. Seven fertilizer treatments were implemented which included control; farmers practice (FP); generalized recommendations dose (GRD), STCR recommendations for 5.5 & 6.0 t ha-1 (TY 5.5 & TY 6.0) grain yield target with fertilizers alone; and with fertilizer and FYM (TY 5.5FYM & TY 6.0FYM. The results of the experiment revealed that the treatments based on the targeted yield precision model with and without IPNS component ensured higher grain yield, per cent increase in the yield, higher response to fertilizers and FYM, additional benefits from higher produce and higher benefit/ cost ratio over the farmers’ practice. The grain yield from the pre-fixed targets of 5.5 and 6.0 t ha-1 of wheat were achieved within ± 10 % deviation at almost all the locations which further validate the fertilizer prescription model for wheat. The IPNS treatments guaranteed better benefit/cost ratio vis-s-vis without IPNS. The targeted yield precision model for fertilizer recommendations was more precise to achieve the targeted yield which additionally led to higher profits.