Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Wheat: A Review

Abstract

Ethiopia is the second largest wheat producer, after South Africa, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wheat is one of the major staple crops in the country in terms of both production and consumption. In terms of caloric intake, it is the second--most important food in the country behind maize. Research on nutritional aspects relating to wheat cultivation is abundant and is documented comprehensively. Studies being carried out at different locations in Ethiopia indicated that application of all the needy nutrients through chemical fertilizers have deterious effect on soil health leading to unsustainable yields. Therefore; there is a need to improve nutrient supply system in terms of integrated nutrient management involving the use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic manures coupled with input through biological processes. However, the role of major nutrients on crop physiology and the effect of these nutrients on growth, quality, yield and yield components of cereal crops in general and wheat in particular are unsatisfactory. Above all, the role of balanced fertilizer is the application of essential plant nutrients in light proportion and in optimum quantity for a specific soil crop condition in alleviating the yield, quality and its attributes of wheat production is important. In association with this, research on integrated nutrient management in wheat and its effect on growth, yield, yield components and quality parameters are significance. The literature pertaining to these lines of research in wheat is presented in an elaborative way and is reviewed in this paper.

Keywords: Integrated nutrient management, FYM, Chemical fertilizer