Field Experiment to Evaluate the Phosphate Fertilizers Effect on Wheat' Morphological Traits

Background: To meet SDG 2, agricultural productivity must double, and wheat production in particular must close the gap between demand and consumption. China leads global wheat production, accounting for 17% with 135.8 million tonnes in 2022 – 2023, followed by India with 105 million tonnes. Russia produces 85.2 million tonnes and is also the world's largest exporter. Pakistan's production was 26.2 million tonnes in 2022. Pakistan's wheat sector faces the challenge of meeting growing demand, as average yields per hectare are below potential and the population is growing rapidly. Objectives: The objectives included comparing the impact of DAP, NP, and SSP fertilizers on plant height (cm), number of tillers per plant, spike length (cm), grains per spike, seed index (1000-grain weight in grams), grain yield (kg/ha), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content (%) in the grains and straw of the TD-1, SKD-1, and TJ-83 varieties. Methods: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphatic fertilizers, including DAP, NP, and SSP, applied at dose of 84 kg P2O5 per ha, on soil nutrient dynamics and the morphological traits of three wheat varieties: TD-1, SKD-1, and TJ-83. For the experiment was utilized a randomized complete block design with treatments applied to soil and crops under controlled field conditions. Soil properties such N, P, K, EC, pH, and OM, along with wheat morphological traits, were assessed. Results: The results indicate that DAP fertilizer significantly increased soil N and P levels, while SSP was more effective in enhancing soil K. SSP also increased soil EC, whereas pH decreased with all phosphatic fertilizers compared to the control. Among the wheat varieties, TJ-83 exhibited the highest grain yield (3049 kg/ha) with NP fertilizer. Notably, DAP improved the seed index and grain nutrient content compared to other treatments, with by 51.33g for TD-1 variety. These findings align with other studies report by the scientist, highlighting the efficacy of phosphatic fertilizers in improving soil fertility and crop traits under challenging soil conditions. Conclusion: This finding contributes to optimizing phosphorus fertilizer use for sustainable wheat production and emphasizes the need for long-term experiments integrating innovative amendments like biochar and nanotechnology to enhance soil health and crop productivity.