Fertilizer management strategies for enhancing nutrient use efficiency and sustainable wheat production

Wheat is the staple food crop in many countries. Judicial cultivation methods need to increase wheat productivity for future food security. Modern cultivation methods are fully reliant on chemical fertilizer, which is destroying soil health and the environment. However, the right fertilizer at the right rate, matching with right crop growing period and application in right place (4 R), can improve fertilizer use efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. Organic matter and biofertilizer application improve the soil carbon pool and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. In wheat cultivation, crop recycle, legume green manuring, and farm yard manure can replace 10-50 percent of crop nutrient requirement and improve soil nutrient status. Biofertilizer containing plant growth-promoting bacteria enrich soil N pool, bio-available phosphorus, and crop yield. The application of organic matter and chemical fertilizer together (integrated nutrient management) increased nutrient use efficiency, sustained the fertility of soil, and improved crop productivity. Thus integrated nutrient management with combination of bio-organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer is the best strategy for sustainable wheat production.