Effect of slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers on dry matter accumulation, grain nutritional quality, water productivity and wheat yield under an arid environment

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-08, Vol.12 (1), p.14783-14783, Article 14783
• Main Authors: Ghafoor, Iqra, Rahman, Muhammad Habib ur, Hasnain, Muhammad Usama, Ikram, Rao Muhammad, Khan, Mahmood Alam, Iqbal, Rashid, Hussain, Muhammad Iftikhar, Sabagh, Ayman EL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/449; 704/172; Agricultural ecosystems; Arid environments; Cereal crops; Climatic conditions; Coatings; Crops; Dry matter; Fertilizers; Grain; Humanities and Social Sciences; Irrigation water; multidisciplinary; Neem; Nutritive value; Plant growth; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Slow release fertilizers; Sulfur; Urea; Water use; Water use efficiency; Wheat
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18867-5

Slow release nitrogenous fertilizers can improve crops production and reduce the environmental challenges in agro-ecosystem. There is a need to test the efficiency and performance under arid climatic conditions. The study investigates the effect of slow-release fertilizers (urea, neem coated urea (NCU), sulfur coated urea (SCU) and bioactive sulfur coated urea (BSCU)) on the growth, productivity and grain nutritional qualities of wheat crop. Slow-release fertilizers (SRF) with nitrogen levels (130,117,104 and 94 kg ha −1 ) were applied with equal splits at sowing, 20 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). Research showed that the BSCU with 130 kg ha −1 increased dry matter accumulation (1989 kg ha −1 ) after anthesis and grain yield 4463 kg ha −1 . The higher plant height (102 cm) was attained by 130 kg N ha −1 SCU while the minimum (77.67 cm) recorded for 94 kg N ha −1 as urea source. Maximum grain NPK concentrations (3.54, 0.66 and 1.07%) were recorded by BSCU 130 kg N ha −1 application. While, the minimum NPK (0.77, 0.19 and 0.35%) were observed by Urea 94 kg N ha −1 . The high irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) recorded (20.92 kg ha −1  mm −1 ) and a crop index of 25.52% by BSCU 130 kg N ha −1 application. Research findings show that generally all SRF but particularly BSCU proved effective and can be recommended for wheat crop under arid environment.