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Influence of coated urea on yield response, energetics and economics of wheat under the Shivalik foothills of Jammu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12287
Submitted
15 October 2025
Published
12-05-2026

Abstract

The study evaluated the impact of coated urea fertilisers on the energy efficiency and economic performance of wheat grown under irrigated conditions in the humid eco-region of the Western Himalayas. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19 at the research farm of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, Chatha, using a randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatments and 3 replications. The soil was sandy clay loam with slightly alkaline pH, low organic carbon and nitrogen (N) and medium phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Treatments included conventional urea, zinc-coated urea (ZnCU), neem-coated urea and their combinations at different N levels, along with recommended PKZn fertilisers. Results showed that application of 100 % recommended N through ZnCU + PKZn recorded the highest total energy input, 21308.02 MJ ha-1 and output (84426.33 MJ ha-1). Conventional urea exhibited the maximum specific energy (10 MJ kg-1), while the combination of ZnCU and neem-coated urea at 85 % N achieved the highest energy productivity (0.113 kg MJ-1). The control recorded the highest energy-use efficiency (4.50). ZnCU-based treatments at both 100 % and 85 % N levels significantly improved grain yield, with comparable results across treatments. Economically, 100 % ZnCU + PKZn recorded the highest net returns and benefit-cost ratio, demonstrating its superiority for enhancing energy efficiency, productivity and profitability of wheat in the region.

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