Ghafoor, IqraRahman, Muhammad Habib UrHasnain, Muhammad UsamaIkram, Rao MuhammadKhan, Mahmood AlamIqbal, RashidHussain, Muhammad Iftikhar2024-12-242024-12-2420222045-2322https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18867-5https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12604/6826Slow release nitrogenous fertilizers can improve crops production and reduce the environmental challenges in agro-ecosystem. There is a need to test the efficiency and performance under arid climatic conditions. The study investigates the effect of slow-release fertilizers (urea, neem coated urea (NCU), sulfur coated urea (SCU) and bioactive sulfur coated urea (BSCU)) on the growth, productivity and grain nutritional qualities of wheat crop. Slow-release fertilizers (SRF) with nitrogen levels (130,117,104 and 94 kg ha(-1)) were applied with equal splits at sowing, 20 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). Research showed that the BSCU with 130 kg ha(-1) increased dry matter accumulation (1989 kg ha(-1)) after anthesis and grain yield 4463 kg ha(-1). The higher plant height (102 cm) was attained by 130 kg N ha(-1) SCU while the minimum (77.67 cm) recorded for 94 kg N ha(-1) as urea source. Maximum grain NPK concentrations (3.54, 0.66 and 1.07%) were recorded by BSCU 130 kg N ha(-1) application. While, the minimum NPK (0.77, 0.19 and 0.35%) were observed by Urea 94 kg N ha(-1). The high irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) recorded (20.92 kg ha(-1) mm(-1)) and a crop index of 25.52% by BSCU 130 kg N ha(-1) application. Research findings show that generally all SRF but particularly BSCU proved effective and can be recommended for wheat crop under arid environment.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessArticle121Q2WOS:000847803100043Q12-s2.0-851369182713604236210.1038/s41598-022-18867-5