Effect of rhizospheric nutrient management on root growth, yield, and nutrient use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Tarai region of Uttarakhand, India

Rhizospheric nutrient management and fertilizer placement can be a useful measure to improve wheat crops productivity in Tarai regions of India.  An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of rhizospheric nutrient management on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to explore the relationship between root proliferation, grain yield and NUE in Tarai region of Uttarakhand,  India.  It comprised 3 fertilizer application (P1 to P3) and 6 nutrient management treatments (T1 to T6) with absolute control in a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. Experimental results indicated that P1 (1.29 and 1.47; 1.84 and 2.29 mg/cc) produced greater root density, and compared to P3 (1.39 and 1.49; 1.74 and 2.17 mg/cc), P2 (1.24 and 1.36; 1.68 and 1.97 mg/cc) and absolute control (0.85 and 1.19; 1.42 and 1.69 mg/cc) at maximum tillering and flowering stage in year 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively .The root proliferation also influenced the grain yield (5.4 and 5.5; 5.3 and 5.3; 5.1 and 5.2; 3.5 and 3.3 t/ha ) in P1, P3, P2 and absolute control in the year 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively.  However, the grain yield and root distributions (at the flowering stage) recorded significantly (p=0.05) maximum in T4 (5.8 and 5.7 t/ha; 1.84 and 2.32 mg/cc) followed by T3, T6, T1, T5, T2 treatments and minimum in absolute control (3.5 and3.3 t/ha; 1.42 and 1.69 mg /cc) in the year of 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively.  Thus, the rhizospheric nutrient management (75% RDF+ vermicompost + PSB) with fertilizer placement can be a feasible approach for increasing grain yield and NUE in Tarai regions of Uttarakhand, by promoting deep root development and reducing fertilizer inputs in wheat.