ROLE OF BIOCHAR AND MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF WHEAT

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Research Farm of the Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana to assess the effects of biochar and microbial consortium on wheat growth, yield, and economic aspects. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. In the main plot, 2 levels biochar were applied 0 and 4t ha⁻¹ and in sub plots six microbials were applied including Zinc Solubilizing bacteria, Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria, Potassium Solubilizing bacteria, Acetobacter, and their consortium. The variety of wheat used was WH 1124. Biochar significantly increased grains per spike, spike length, effective tillers, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield. In the case of microbial treatments, the consortium showed the significantly highest grains per spike (43.2), spike length (12.1 cm), effective tillers (327.75 m-2), grain yield (4114 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5504 kg ha-1) and biological yield (9619 kg ha-1). The study concludes that the combined use of biochar and microbial consortium is an effective and environmentally sustainable nutrient management strategy for improving wheat productivity, maintaining soil health, and increasing farm income.