Increasing P Availability in Wheat Crop: Role of Supplemental Humic Acid and Psbs in Enhancing Availability of Phosphorus to Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Crop

Wheat is very important crop of Pakistan, as it is the staple food and largest grain source of the country. Its contribution is 13.1 percent to the value added in agriculture and 2.7 percent to GDP. Pakistan is among the top wheat producing countries of the world. However there is a big gap between actual and potential yield of wheat in Pakistan. Yield limiting factors include water shortage, low use of nutrients due to high prices of fertilizers, conventional cultural practices and low nutrient use efficiency. Phosphorus use efficiency is very low throughout the world, P deficiency is a major factor contributing to low crop production. Humic substances, like humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA), enhance both the yield and quality of many plants, including grains. Humic acid increases the organic matter. The enhancement in P availability and micronutrients with HA application has already been reported in a variety of crops.