ORGANIC COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS AS SUBSTITUTES TO INORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION

Abstract

This study was conducted during 2024 wheat growing season to evaluate effects of nitrogen-enriched organic commercial fertilizers on wheat growth, yield, and soil nutrient status. Fertilizers assessed included an enriched organic commercial fertilizer (OMFERT) and nitrogen-fortified wheat straw (WS), compared against conventional inorganic NPK fertilizer and an unfertilized control. Results indicated that wheat plants grown with enriched organic commercial fertilizers exhibited growth and yield characteristics comparable to those treated with inorganic commercial fertilizer. At harvest, plants treated with OMFERT attained an average height of 261 cm, followed closely by those receiving fortified wheat straw (254 cm) and inorganic commercial fertilizer (254 cm). Time required to reach 50% tasseling varied among treatments, with inorganic commercial fertilizer allowing fastest tasseling at 52 days, followed by OMFERT at 50 days, WS at 54 days, and control taking longest. Grain yield was significantly influenced by fertilization, with OMFERT yielding 3.96 t ha⁻¹, NPK fertilizer producing 3.55 t ha⁻¹, WS yielding 3.14 t ha⁻¹, and control yielding lowest at 2.66 t ha⁻¹. Findings suggest that enriched organic commercial fertilizers can serve as viable alternatives to conventional inorganic commercial fertilizers for sustaining wheat growth and yield.