On-farm nitrogen use pattern in wheat in rice-wheat cropping system of the trans-gangetic plains of India

Apart from the issue of sustainability and resource drain, the yield plateau in the rice-wheat cropping system of south-east Asia is the major area of concern. Realizing that genetic gain is a remote possibility, efforts are directed to management options for yield improvement. Adequate crop nutrition in general and nitrogen (N) in particular figure at the top among various management issues. A survey was conducted covering the rice-wheat belt of Haryana state, India representing Trans-Gangetic plains to know about on-farm practices related to N management in wheat crop and how far it deviates from the blanket recommendations given by State Agricultural Universities. The survey revealed that about 42.7 per cent farmers used either recommended dose of N (150 kg/ha) or less and others used higher dose of N. Positive correlation between the size of the farm and extent of N used was established. Whenever the farmers tended to use higher dose of N, they also tended to partition it in more number of splits (up to 3 splits, excluding basal application) staggering upto 54 days after sowing (DAS) as against the recommended practice of two splits (including basal application) within 35 DAS. The study confirmed deviation from the recommended practices of N management but major revelation came about reverse gap holding that the practice of N management in wheat crop being followed by the farmers is better in terms of grain yield. The NPhysical optimum and NEconomic optimum exceeded the current use (165.7 kg/ha) and recommended levels. This study suggests a fit case for the upward revision of recommended dose of N in wheat crop involving no element of risk as arising from aggravated problem of insect pest and disease complex. Nearly half of the farmers use either recommended dose of N or less than that and it is here, where opportunity lies in augmenting the wheat productivity by enhancing the existing level of N use