Integrated Resource Management for Sustainable Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Production in the South-Eastern Region of Rajasthan

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in India and plays a major role in ensuring food security, nutritional stability, and economic development. It is widely cultivated across different agro-climatic regions of the country and serves as a staple food for millions of people. Due to increasing population pressure and limited cultivable land, there is a growing need to enhance wheat productivity through sustainable agricultural practices. Among the various factors affecting wheat production, irrigation and nutrient management are considered the most important. Proper irrigation at critical growth stages and balanced nutrient supply are essential for achieving higher grain yield and maintaining soil fertility. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers alone may provide immediate crop response, but continuous application over a long period can negatively affect soil health, reduce microbial activity, and lower nutrient use efficiency. Therefore, integrated nutrient management, which combines chemical fertilizers with organic sources such as farmyard manure (FYM), has emerged as an effective approach for sustainable crop production. FYM improves soil structure, increases water-holding capacity, enhances soil organic carbon, and promotes better nutrient availability. Keeping these aspects in view, the present study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025–26 at the Agricultural Instructional Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan. The experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of different irrigation schedules and fertility source treatments on wheat growth, yield, quality, soil fertility, and economic returns. The soil of the experimental field was silty loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction, low in organic carbon, and medium in fertility status. The experiment consisted of four irrigation levels and four fertility source treatments arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The irrigation treatments included one irrigation at Crown Root Initiation (CRI) stage, two irrigations at CRI and flowering stages, three irrigations at CRI, late jointing, and milk stages, and four irrigations at CRI, tillering, flowering, and milk stages. Fertility treatments included 100 percent recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) through chemical fertilizers, 75 percent RDF through fertilizers + 25 percent FYM, 50 percent RDF through fertilizers + 50 percent FYM, and 100 percent RDF through FYM. The results of the study revealed that higher irrigation frequency significantly improved plant height, number of tillers, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, grain yield, straw yield, and water use efficiency. Among the irrigation treatments, four irrigations at CRI, tillering, flowering, and milk stages produced the highest growth and yield. Similarly, integrated nutrient management treatments performed better than sole application of fertilizers or FYM. The treatment receiving 75 percent RDF through fertilizers combined with 25 percent FYM recorded the highest grain yield, better nutrient uptake, improved grain quality, and maximum economic returns. Therefore, the study concluded that integrated irrigation and nutrient management is essential for sustainable wheat production and long-term soil health.