Field experiment was carried out during the Rabi season (November–March) of 2018–19 at the Agricultural Research Sub-Station, Sumerpur, Pali, under Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India to evaluate the response of chemical fertilizer and zinc-solubilizing biofertilizer (ZSB) on the growth, yield, and economic performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising seven treatments, each replicated four times. Growth, yield

attributes and yield were recorded and statistically analysed. The results revealed that all the measured growth and yield attributes of wheat responded positively to the application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and its graded levels in combination with ZSB. Among the treatments, the combination of 100% NPK along with ZSB applied as a seed treatment at 650 g ha-1 (T4) exhibited a significant improvement in growth, yield components and yield compared to all treatment receiving 75% NPK +ZSB. However, T4 did not exhibit any significant difference over the control treatment receiving 100% NPK alone. Furthermore, the T4 treatment recorded the highest net return and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio (2.96), indicating that the integration of zinc-solubilizing biofertilizer with the recommended dose of NPK is not only agronomically effective but also exhibits economic advantage.

Highlights

• m Maximum plant height (101.00 cm) was achieved with T4 (100% NPK + ZSB at 650 g ha⁻¹), showing a 3.19% increase over control. Treatments with reduced NPK (75%) recorded lower heights, with T7 (94.45 cm) showing a 3.50% reduction.
• Grain number per spike was highest in T4 (42.68 grains, +5.38% over control), while T2 and T6 were statistically similar. Treatments with 75% NPK showed significant declines (–7.53% to –8.94%), and test weight remained statistically unaffected.
• Grain yield peaked at 42.23 q ha⁻¹ in T4 (+3.94% over control), with straw yield also highest (60.03 q ha⁻¹, +8.05%). Biological yield followed the same trend, though overall improvements were statistically non-significant, indicating limited impact of ZSB under prevailing soil conditions.
• T4 (100% NPK + ZSB at 650 g ha⁻¹) delivered the best economic returns—gross return ` 1,16,595 ha⁻¹, net return ` 77,254 ha⁻¹, and B:C ratio of 2.96— closely followed by T6 (B:C ratio 2.93).