Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in timely sown wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

The research examined how INM strategies influence wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) growth characteristics and yield performance alongside financial impacts when planting wheat during the proper season. The field experiment employed a randomized complete block design to analyze seven INM treatments including control T₁ and T₂ using 100% recommended dose of fertilizers - RDF and subsequent treatments T₃ to T₇ incorporating combinations of 75% RDF + farmyard manure - FYM and 75% RDF + vermicompost - VC and their other variants with biofertilizers. Plant height along with tiller count and leaf area index together with chlorophyll content and dry matter accumulation received a notable boost when chemical fertilizers were integrated with organic manures and biofertilizers compared to using chemical fertilizers solo. Application of treatment T₆ provided the greatest harvest yield at 5.82 t/ha which exceeded control yield by 34.7% while T₅ and T₇ delivered secondary results of 5.64 and 5.37 t/ha respectively. Soil health indicators like organic carbon and available N, P, K, microbial biomass carbon showed the greatest improvement when INM farming practices were applied. Net returns and benefit-cost ratio reached the highest levels (2.38) through treatment T₆ according to economic assessment. This study verifies INM methods as a long-term solution for wheat productivity enhancement alongside soil quality protection and economic profitability in wheat agricultural settings.