Effect of fertility levels and sowing methods on wheat yield, nutrient content and soil nutrient availability under mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh

The present experiment titled “Effect of Fertility Levels and Sowing Methods on Wheat Yield, Nutrient Content and Soil Nutrient Availability under Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during rabi season of 2023-24 at Chamelti Agriculture Farm, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh located at an elevation of 1,270 meters above mean sea level lying between latitude 300 85’67.30 N and longitude 770 13’20.38 E. Results indicated that among the sowing methods, significantly higher nutrient content in grain (1.92, 0.426 and 0.49%, NPK, respectively) and in straw (0.42, 0.185 and 1.27%, NPK, respectively) were recorded under Line sowing method. However, significantly higher nutrient uptake by grain (45.12, 10.76 and 11.95 Kg ha^-1, NPK respectively), nutrient uptake by straw (15.17, 7.12 and 52.84 Kg ha^-1, NPK respectively), [grain yield (2919 kg ha^­-1), straw yield (6438 kg ha^­-1) and biological yield (9357 kg ha^-1)] were recorded under (M₃) Criss-cross method. Among the fertility levels, significantly higher nutrient content in grain (1.90, 0.464 and 0.49%, NPK respectively), nutrient content in straw (1.64, 0.241 and 1.36%, NPK respectively), nutrient uptake by grain (51.60, 12.68 and 13.05 Kg ha^-1, NPK respectively), nutrient uptake by straw (18.73, 9.78 and 55.70 Kg ha^-1, NPK respectively), grain yield (3066 kg ha^­-1), straw yield (7079 kg ha^­-1) and biological yield (10145 kg ha^-1) were recorded under application of (N₂) 125% RDF treatment which was statistically at par with application of (N₃) 100% RDF under mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh.