IMPACT OF GREEN SOIL (TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM) ON WHEAT GRAIN YIELD IN PESHAWAR VALLEY

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of Trichoderma-enriched soil (green soil), inorganic fertilizer, and their combined application on the growth and grain yield of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Khyber-23 and Gulzar-19. The experiment was conducted at the Cereal Crops Research Institute using a split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Wheat cultivars were assigned to the main plots, whereas fertilizer treatments comprising control, inorganic fertilizer, green soil, and their combined application were allocated to the subplots. Fertilizer treatments significantly influenced most growth and yield traits, and significant cultivar × fertilizer interactions were observed for several parameters. The combined application of inorganic fertilizer and Trichoderma enriched soil produced superior performance compared with the control and individual fertilizer applications. Gulzar-19 recorded higher spike weight and grain weight per spike, whereas Khyber-23 achieved the highest 1000-grain weight and grain yield under the combined treatment. Overall, integrating biofertilizer with inorganic fertilizer enhanced wheat growth and productivity, indicating that this nutrient management strategy can improve crop performance while supporting sustainable wheat production.