ENHANCING WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) PERFORMANCE THROUGH COMBINED USE OF BIOFERTILIZERS AND ZINC SULPHATE

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024 at Govt. Post College, Timergara, District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to investigate the effects of biofertilizers and zinc sulphate on the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The study included treatments with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Azotobacter, their combination (PSB + Azotobacter), and zinc sulphate applied at 20, 25, and 30 kg/ha. The experimental soil was sandy loam, nearly neutral in pH (7.8), and low in organic carbon (0.35%). Results revealed that the integrated application of PSB, Azotobacter, and zinc sulphate at 30 kg/ha significantly improved growth and yield attributes. The treatment achieved maximum plant height (159.03 cm), plant dry weight (162.70 g/plant), crop growth rate (26.25 g/m²/day), cobs per plant (1.8), rows per cob (16.8), seeds per cob (553.4), 100-seed weight (29.3 g), grain yield (6.5 t/ha), straw yield (12.9 t/ha), and harvest index (33.8%). These improvements can be attributed to the synergistic role of biofertilizers in enhancing nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, through increased microbial activity in the rhizosphere, alongside the physiological benefits of zinc in enzymatic and metabolic functions. The findings highlight integrated nutrient management, combining biofertilizers with zinc supplementation, as a sustainable approach to improving wheat productivity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers.