Influence of integrated nutrient management on productivity and grain protein content of wheat under sandy soils conditions

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University at Qena on sandy soil to study the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on productivity and grain protein content of wheat. Seven different treatments with three replications each were carried out in the plot in RCB design. The recommended NPK, FYM and biofertilizer (Azotobacter chroococcum) were applied alone and in various combinations among them. The study revealed that the integration of organic manures in combination with biofertilizer and chemical fertilizers was found significant in improving the overall yield attributes, grain yield, straw yield and grain protein content than the sole application of either of these nutrients. Maximum grain yield (2356 kg ha -1 ) and straw yield (3614 kg ha -1 ) were observed with treatment T6 (half of the recommended NPK + 10 tons FYM + biofertilizer). Like grain and straw yields, the highest grain protein content (11.95%) observed from T6.