Effect of the Application of Nitrogen, Zinc and Boron on Soil Properties and Available Nutrients Status after the Harvest of Wheat

A field investigation was carried out at Palampur with sixteen treatment combinations consisting of four levels of N (0, 50,100 and150 per cent of recommended dose), two levels of Zn (0 and 10 kg ha-1) and two levels of B (0 and 1 kg ha-1) in factorial randomized block design. Application of N, Zn and B significantly increased their respective available contents in soil after wheat harvest. Nitrogen application also had positive effect on available P K and Zn. There was a consistent increase in available N content after wheat harvest with increasing levels of N. In case of P, the differences between N levels were narrow enough and 50 per cent recommended N over control, 100 per cent N over 50 per cent N and 150 per cent over 100 per cent N could not significantly influence available P content of soil. The available K and Zn contents of the soil were significantly increased upto 100 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen. Highest grain (45.83 q ha-1) yield of wheat was recorded under 150 per cent of recommended dose of nitrogen which was 84.8 per cent higher than control. Application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 increased the grain yield by 9.7 per cent. Similarly, boron application @ 1 kg ha-1 increased grain yield by 8.1 per cent.