Integrated Nutrient Management in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the principal cereal crops grown worldwide which also has significance as the second-most staple food of the world after rice. Wheat is also a major crop grown in South Dakota. Being a rich source of energy and protein, it is consumed by a great deal of people around the world by making many different cuisines from it. Despite its huge demand in the food industry, its production has not escalated in recent years. One of the major constraints in wheat production is the sole application of chemical fertilizers to fulfill the nutritional requirement of wheat crop. Though NPK are the primary nutrients required for wheat crops, other essential nutrients are also equally significant to obtain optimum yield. Chemical fertilizers have adverse effect on the environment as well as long-term soil health. The imbalance use of nutrients results in unsustainable production. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) system emphasizes the use of organic manures along with chemical fertilizers and it is a good approach to minimize losses in crop production and crop quality which would otherwise be caused by inappropriate use of fertilizers. This article reviews the literature pertaining to the research in fertilizers used in wheat production along with emphasizing the need for integrated nutrient management in wheat production.