Cumulative effect of biochar,microbes and herbicide on the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In pakistan,per acre yield of wheat (triticum aestivum l.) suffers greatly due to low organic matter and immobilized form of nutrients in soils. various strategies have been adopted by agronomists to cope these issues. in order to investigate the effect of an integrated strategy of application of biochar (green waste),microbes (pseudomonas,agrobacterium,azospirillum,enterobacter) and herbicides on the growth and yield of wheat,an experiment was conducted at the farm area of the islamia university of bahawalpur,pakistan during 2012-13. the experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements containing three replications. the main plots were with and without the application of herbicide,while subplots carried four treatments viz. microbial inoculation,biochar application,microbial inoculation in combination with biochar,and an untreated control. maximum grain yield (5.04 t ha-1) and yield components were recorded in herbicide treated plants with the combined application of biochar and microbes,while minimum (2.14 t ha-1) was measured in untreated control where herbicide was not applied. biological yield and leaf area showed that both biochar and microbes in combination with herbicide application were most effective than all other treatments. it is concluded that biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) along with herbicides was considered to be a best combination that enhanced the productivity of wheat.