Journal of Environmental Biology

Need based nitrogen management using precision tools in wheat crop

N. Sharma¹*, F. Farooq¹, A. Kumar¹, R. Kumar¹, S.K. Mishra¹, S. Mehta², J.S. MeCarty¹ and A. Hamid³     

¹Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha-180 009, India

²Division of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University Phagwara-144 411, India

³Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu-190 025

Received: 15 January 2025                   Revised: 27 March 2025                   Accepted: 28 June 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : hanshunitu77@rediffmail.com                     *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9773-6262

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to enhance wheat productivity, efficiency, and sustainability by optimizing nitrogen use through precision agriculture technologies.

Methodology: Using instruments like the Leaf color chart (LCC) and spad meter, a two-year field study (2021–22 and 2022–23) was conducted at SKUAST-Jammu to evaluate the effect of precision nitrogen management on wheat yield and financial returns. Nine treatments: control and nitrogen applications @ 20, 25, and 30 kg N ha^-1 were included in three replications of the experiment, which was conducted using a randomized block design and was guided by criteria of LCC ≤ 4, LCC ≤ 5, and SPAD readings.

Results: LCC < 5 nitrogen at i30 kg ha-1 produced the highest values for yield attributes and yield, such as tillers per square meter, spike per square meter, grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and straw yield. These outcomes were statistically similar to those nitrogen obtained at 25 kg ha^-1 and 20 kg ha^-1 with LCC ≤ 5. Similarly, LCC < 5 at 30 kg N ha^-1 produced the highest nutrient uptake (N, P and K) and economic returns (net income and benefit cost ratio), although these did not differ substantially from the other LCC ≤ 5 treatments.

Interpretation: The study confirms that real-time nitrogen management with LCC and SPAD significantly improved the wheat yield, nutrient uptake, and economic efficiency, with LCC ≤ 5 @ 30 kg N ha^-1 yielding the best results. LCC based management is the most effective and cost-efficient strategy.

Key words: Leaf colour chart, Nutrient management, Real time nitrogen, SPAD meter, Wheat

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