Pages: 15-22

Abstract

Biogas slurry (BGS) obtained from biogas digester, being rich in available nutrients has the potential to alleviate the use of costly inorganic fertilizers and improves the soil health consequently enhancing the crop yields.  It has necessitated to generate the nutro-information of biogas slurry in context with its levels as well as its conjunctive application with chemical fertilizer on yield, quality of wheat and soil properties. Therefore a pot study was carried out at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi during Rabi 2015-16 to evaluate the effects of different doses of biogas slurry and its co-application with inorganic fertilizers for the improvement of yield and quality of wheat. Six treatments in the study were: T₁= without fertilizer (control), T₂ = chemical fertilizer equivalent to 125Kg N ha^-1, T₃ = biogas slurry equivalent to 125Kg N ha^-1, T₄ = 50% T₂ + 50% T₃, T₅ = 75% T₂ + 25% T₃, T₆ = 25% T₂ + 75% T₃. Experiment was laid out in complete randomized design with three replications. Results indicated that the treatment where biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer were applied @ 50% each significantly improved the leaf area index (5.82), chlorophyll contents(40.50), root length (12.57), plant height (77.93), number of tillers plant^-1 (3.33), spike length(10.133 cm) biological yield (13.052 t ha^-1), thousand grain weight( 2.867 g), grain yield (4.988 t ha^-1) and harvest index ( 38.216)  when compared with control. Our results also suggested that the application of combined use of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer @ 50% each not only has a good strategy for sustainable crop yield but also improved the soil health