Varietal response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to nutrient management in northeastern regions of Haryana

Hairamine, a protein hydrolysate obtained from waste human hair, is a growth-promoting biostimulant rich in organic nitrogen, carbon, amides and amino acids. A field experiment was carried out at the Department of Agriculture, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, during the Rabi seasons of 2022-2023 and 2023-24. The study evaluated the performance of three wheat varieties under an integrated nutrient management approach, incorporating hairamine, along with inorganic fertilizers (NPK) to assess their impact on grain yield and related attributes. The study evaluated four fertilizer regimes—recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF); a combination of 75% RDF with 25% nutrients from vermicompost; 75% RDF supplemented with foliar application of hairamine at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing (DAS) at 10 ml/L; and a mix of 50% RDF, 25% vermicompost, and three foliar sprays of hairamine at the same intervals. These nutrient strategies were assessed across three wheat varieties (WH-1124, WH-1105 and WH-1184) using a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The nutrient regime approach, specifically 50% RDF + 25% Vermicompost + 3 foliar sprays of hairamine at 30, 60 and 90 DAS @ 10 ml/L water, resulted in the greatest shoot length, tiller count and biomass accumulation, which was statistically comparable to nutrient management approach of 75% RDF + 25% nutrients from Vermicompost. Therefore, the incorporation of Hairamine as a bio-stimulant along with a reduced fertilizer dose is suggested for promoting sustainable wheat cultivation.