Search

Generally, there is subsistence kind of farming in Pothwar Region of Pakistan. The per unit area income of farmers is very low and the soils of this region are very poor. Mostly mono-cropping system is prevailing here. So, the pearl millet and mung bean were selected as test crops to evaluate the intercropping system in this region for the ultimate improvement of the net profitability of the farmers per unit area simultaneously not compromising with the food security and soil health. Different line spacing's (inter and intra strip) i.e., 30, 60 and 90 cm were maintained along with different number of lines of pearl millet and mung bean i.e., 1, 2 and 3 in the form of strips for comparison. The results showed that intercropping significantly reduced density and dry biomass of weeds per unit area. Moreover, the biological yield, grain yield and the harvesting index of pearl millet and mung bean were also affected significantly under different sowing geometries. Both crops growth and yield was increased in the narrow row spacing as compared to wider row spacing, whereas, weed density and biomass was decreased in narrow spacing that may be due to less availability of space and more intra and inter specific competition. Maximum land equivalent ratio (1.8) was found under the plot where alternate strips of three lines of both crops were grown at 30 cm intra and inter strip distance and it was followed by (1.7) in the treatment where single lines of both crops were grown alternately at 30 cm distance. Similarly, the net income of intercropped plots having three lines of both crops grown alternately in the form of strips at 30 cm intra and inter strip spacing, was 116% higher than sole mung bean crop and 56% higher than sole pearl millet crop. Maximum weeds (106.4 m-2) were observed in single alternate lines of both crops grown at 90 cm intra and inter strip distance whereas minimum (75.2m-2) in triple lines of both crops grown alternately in the form of strips having 30 cm intra and inter strip distance. Therefore, intercropping of mung bean and pearl millet in the form of strips of three lines having 30 cm intra and inter strip distance is recommended to the farming community of Pothwar Region of Pakistan for taking maximum net returns per unit area per unit time through inter cropping in kharif season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology plays a significant role in promoting agriculture and agricultural products. Agriculture and food industry aims for the sustainability and the protection of agricultural products, including crops for human and livestock. Nanotechnology helps in the manufacturing of innovative agrochemicals and novel delivery mechanisms to enhance crop production and decrease in pesticide use. Nanotechnology also contributes in increasing the crop yield in agriculture. One of the major contribution of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture is the formulation of nano based pesticides and fertilizers for increased crop production. Precise farming techniques can promote crop production without damaging soil and water, reducing losses due to leaching of nitrogen and enhancing long lasting incorporation of nutrients by micro-organisms present in the soil. Another major breakthrough of nanotechnology for improvement in agriculture production is the development of insect-resistant varieties by DNA transfer in the plants or nanoparticle-mediated gene. Biofuel production from biomass is estimated to speed up using nanotechnology. Researchers and manufacturers have to demonstrate that the application of nanotechnologies have no harmful effect on the atmosphere against the anomaly based only on small amounts of toxicological research and concerns about the safety of nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oil seed crop in Pakistan having the potential of bridging gap between production and consumption of edible oil in the country. The experiment was conducted at National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan, during August to December, 2016, to evaluate different exotic sunflower hybrids for their performance and adaptability in the field area of NARC. Twelve sunflower hybrids including one check i.e. SF-16013, SF-16007, SF-16010, SF-16005, SF-16006, SF-16002, SF-16008, SF-16004, SF-16011, SF16003, SF-160011, Hysun-33 were studied in the experiment. The experiments were carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The distance between adjacent rows was 75 cm while the distance between plants to plant was 30 cm. The seed was sown in the first week of August. The following parameters were studied in the experiment i.e. days to flower initiation, days to flower completion, plant height, days to maturity, stem diameter, head diameter, number of leaves, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per hectare. Quality parameters were consisted upon oil content (%), protein content (%), and fatty acid profile. The results showed that significantly highest seed yield (2187.3) kg ha-1 was produced by SF 16003 followed by SF16010 and SF 16002 having (2016.2) kg ha-1 and (1888.2) kg ha-1 seed yield respectively. The Cluster analysis also determined SF 16003 as best hybrid which was at a very close distance from the group of SF16010 and SF 16002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is facing a chronic deficiency of edible oil and imports around 75% of its edible oil from other countries which is a huge burden on our national economy. The situation thus requires for enhancing the indigenous oilseed production through different possible approaches. Development and promotion of local sunflower hybrids can be one of the options. Local sunflower hybrids with higher yield and wider adoptability can make Pakistan self sufficient in edible oil. Therefore a study was carried out at National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad, to evaluate the performance of 12 locally developed sunflower Hybrids. Twelve sunflower hybrids including two checks viz., SMH 1006, SMH 0907, SMH 0932, SMH 1208, NKS-278, SMH 1001, SMH 0917, SMH 1401, Hysun-33, SMH 0927, SMH 0909 and SMH 1215 were studied in the experiment. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data regarding Agronomic parameters was collected on days to flower initiation, days to flower completion, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, plant height, head diameter, days to maturity, 100 seed weight, number of seeds per head and seed yield per hectare. Quality parameters were consisted upon oil content (%), protein content (%) and Fatty acid profile. Results showed that SMH-1001 and SMH-1215 hybrids performed best for yield and quality parameters, whereas, SMH-1006 and SMH-0909 were considered best for early maturing traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability of the soil productivity and soil moisture conservation are two major problems of rainfed agriculture. Thus, to address these issues, a two year field study was carried out at Agronomic Research Area of University Research Farm of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi during 2012-14.The effects of different tillage systemscombined with glyphosate herbicide on soil moisture content, bulk density and porosity associated with wheat grain yield were evaluated. Seven tillage treatments were applied in the fallow periods (summer seasons) of both years before sowing of wheat crop. These tillage treatments were (i) Once Mould board plowing followed by 8 cultivations with planker (1 MBP + 8 CS) as a check, (ii) No-till followed by twice application of glyphosate herbicide (NT + GH), (iii) Once Mould board plowing followed by twice application of glyphosate herbicide (1 MBP + GH), (iv) Once Mould board plowing followed by 4 cultivations with planker (1 MBP + 4 CS), (v) Once disc harrowing followed by twice application of glyphosate herbicide (1 DH + GH), (vi) Once disc harrowing followed by 4 cultivations with planker (1 DH + 4 CS)and (vii) Once chisel plowing followed by twice application of glyphosate herbicide (1 CP + GH). Results of two year study showed integrated use of glyphosate and tillage systems in general did not affect soil moisture content (P > 0.05). However, soil moisture content was 9% higher in NT + GH as compared to check (1 MBP + 8 CS; P = 0.05). Soil moisture content was significantly higher at 30-45 cm soil depth as compared to top soil (0-30 cm; P = 0.05). Besides, higher soil moisture content was measured at wheat developmental stage relative to other stages (P = 0.05). Soil porosity was significantly higher and bulk density was significantly lower under two statistically similar treatments, i.e. 1 MBP + 8 CS as well as 1 MBP + 4 CS.The wheat production was significantly affected by deep tillage systems having highest and statistically similar yield under the treatments, i.e. 1 MBP + 8 CS as well as 1 MBP + 4 CS. The regression analysis proved that soil moisture content and bulk density have a great association with tillage systems, whereas, the correlation analysis proved that soil porosity and tillage intensity have a strong and positive correlation with wheat grain yield. In conclusion soil moisture dynamics can be improved by combine use of no-till and glyphosate herbicide (NT + GH)while soil porosity, its productivity and wheat economical yield in rainfedagriculture can be enhance by once mould board plowing following 4 cultivations with planker (1 MBP + 4 CS). However, further long term investigations are recommended tostudy the dynamics of conserved soil moisture under conservation tillage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is the main cereal crop and a staple food in Pakistan. It is an important cereal crop of Potohar region. Weeds infestation is a major cause of low wheat yield. Synthetic herbicides are mostly used to control weeds. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the Chemical control of broad-leaved weeds in wheat at the Koont Research Farm, PMAS-Arid Agricultural University, Rawalpindi, during rabbi season, 2014. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, with a plot size of 06 x 04 m2. Four different herbicides were applied as post emergence with three different doses each viz:,Ally max @ 34.58, 46.11 and 23.04 g ha-1, Lihua @ 53.34, 72.4 and 36.23 g ha-1, and Wheat Star @ 370.5, 494 and 247 g ha-1 and Buctril super 60% EC @ 741, 988 and 494 ml ha-1. An untreated control and hand weeded plot was also included in the trial. Wheat variety AUR-2009 was sown as a test crop and the herbicide was applied 65 days after sowing. All herbicides were sprayed as post-emergence. The best weed control was accomplished by Wheat star@ 494 gha-1 as profoundly lower weed counts m-2 (26), and higher percent weed control (27.9%) were noted after 25 days of its spray. Wheat growth parameters like plant height, number of tillers per m2, spike length and number of spikelets per spike remained statistically at par among various treatments. Significantly higher number of fertile tillers (172), Plant height (93.83 cm), spike length (7.4 cm) were noted with Wheat Star @ 370.5 g ha-1. Although treatments did not differ significantly with respect to wheat grain and biological yields, yet the highest grain yield (3295 kg ha-1) and biological yield (11173 kg ha-1) were produced by Wheat Star @ 370.5 g ha-1. Based on better weed control and wheat yield, Wheat Star @ 370.5 g ha-1 and Buctril Super @ 741 ml ha-1 are recommended in similar areas where wheat fields are predominantly affected by drought and infested by broad leaved weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil weed seed bank is a natural source for weed infestation. Determination of soil weed seed bank has primary importance to get complete picture of weed seed reservoir in the soil profile. An experiment was conducted at University Research Farm, Chakwal Road, Rawalpindi to compare the techniques for determination of soil weed seed bank during winter 2012-2013 under rainfed conditions of Pothowar. Soil samples for the weed seed bank analysis were taken from the experimental field before wheat sowing from 0-10 cm, 11-20 cm and 21-30 cm soil depth. Two soil weed seed bank determination techniques were compared viz., sieving method and seedling emergence method. The data were collected on the seed density m-2, seed frequency, diversity of weed species and relative importance value. The input and output data was also collected to find out the socioeconomic feasibility of the techniques. The comparative analysis of seed bank extraction methods revealed higher weed seeds density, weed frequency with more diversity of weed species under sieving method in comparison to seedling emergence method. Therefore, sieving method was considered superior over seedling emergence method. The feasibility analysis of seed bank extraction methods indicated that sieving was cost-effective, less time consuming, more user friendly with higher accuracy over seedling emergence method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Priming technique used for achieving better crop stand, in which seeds are partially hydrated to a point where germination process begin but radical emergence does not occur. A pot experiment was conducted in a green house. The seeds were invigorated by traditional soaking (hydropriming), osmo-conditioning using phosphorous (KH2PO4; 200 mM and 400 mM), mannitol (20 and 40 gl-1), polyethylene glycol (50 and 100 gl-1), sodium molybdate dihydrate (0.2 and 0.4 gl-1) and hormonal priming by salicylic acid (10 and 20 ppm). Untreated dry seeds were used as control. All the invigoration treatments significantly improved plant vigor in terms of final germination biomass, root, shoot length and nutrient uptake of mungbean seedlings compared to control (non-primed dry seedling). The application of seed priming also improved the protein concentration at the early stage of seedlings. Phosphorous application through priming significantly improved germination up to 95%, seedling vigour index up to 23.05 and protein content up to 2.17 (g-1 FW). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize fodder yield was determined under various nitrogen and phosphorus doses under sub-humid rainfed conditions during 2009 at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The annual rainfall at the experimental site during 2009 was 685.9 mm. The experimental soil was of loamy texture having E.C. of 0.48 dscm-1 pH 7.7, organic matter 0.65%, saturation 30%, available phosphorus 5.7 mg kg-1 and available potassium 78 mg kg-1 Maize cv. Sargodha-2002 was sown in randomized complete block design (factorial) and was fertilized with four each nitrogen @ 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 and phosphorus 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 doses. Significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yield was observed with the increased doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, the nitrogen application @ 180 kg ha-1 increased the green fodder and dry matter yield by 12.33% and 51.50%, respectively. Similarly, with phosphorus application @ 90 kg ha-1 the 36.80% and 46.26% increase was observed in green fodder and dry matter yield, respectively. In combination of nitrogen and phosphorus @ 180:90 NP kg ha-1 there was a significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yields through their interactive effect, that were 90.19% and 159.31%, respectively. This increase may be due to increase in vegetative growth parameters like plant height, stem diameter and leaf area. It was concluded that fertilizers combination of 180:90 NP kg ha-1 was recommended for obtaining higher maize fodder yield under rainfed conditions of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize fodder yield was determined under various nitrogen and phosphorus doses under sub-humid rainfed conditions during 2009 at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The annual rainfall at the experimental site during 2009 was 685.9 mm. The experimental soil was of loamy texture having E.C. of 0.48 dscm-1, pH 7.7, organic matter 0.65%, saturation 30%, available phosphorus 5.7 mg kg-1 and available potassium 78 mg kg-1. Maize cv. Sargodha-2002 was sown in randomized complete block design (factorial) and was fertilized with four each nitrogen @ 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 and phosphorus 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 doses. Significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yield was observed with the increased doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. Overall, the nitrogen application @ 180 kg ha-1 increased the green fodder and dry matter yield by 12.33% and 51.50%, respectively. Similarly, with phosphorus application @ 90 kg ha-1, the 36.80% and 46.26% increase was observed in green fodder and dry matter yield, respectively. In combination of nitrogen and phosphorus @ 180:90 NP kg ha-1, there was a significant increase in green fodder and dry matter yields through their interactive effect, that were 90.19% and 159.31%, respectively. This increase may be due to increase in vegetative growth parameters like plant height, stem diameter and leaf area. It was concluded that fertilizers combination of 180:90 NP kg ha-1 was recommended for obtaining higher maize fodder yield under rainfed conditions of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is a menace that is affecting the agricultural soils and turning these soils into low productive ones and interfere the normal crop development. Wheat is an important cereal crop and salinity is also affecting the growth and yield of this crop. While salicylic acid is found to play a helpful role in supporting the plant growth and development under salt stress. Keeping in view these factors a hydroponic experiment was conducted on wheat with two levels of salicylic acid (0.25 mM and 0.50 mM) under two salt levels (75 mM and 150 mM) to assess that whether the salicylic acid is helpful in coping the harmful effects of salinity on crop growth or not and if it has certain positive response then which level is more suitable for wheat crop growth along with the genotypic assessment of salt tolerance in wheat cultivars (Faisalabad-2008 and Punjab-2011). Punjab-2011 performed better under normal and saline conditions than Faisalabad-2008. Shoot length reduction was 13.15 and 27.50% for Faisalabad-2008 and Punjab-2011 respectively under 75 mM salt stress but response at higher level 150 mM was different with 34.21 and 25.0% reduction in shoot length for Faisalabad-2008 and Punjab-2011 respectively. A significant improvement in shoot length was observed with the application of salicylic acid. Same trend was found for root length. Salt stress lowered the chlorophyll contents, number of tillers and K+/Na+ ratio in both genotypes but the application of salicylic acid improve all the mentioned parameters significantly. The treatment effect of 0.25 mM salicylic acid was more effective under both levels of salt stress as compared to 50 mM salicylic acid treatment. Genotypic differences were non-significant but cumulatively Punjab-2011 showed better performance as compared to Faisalabad-2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR) promote crop growth and seed yield. However, in farm management practices genotype and environmental conditions may also affect the growth and nutrient uptake. PGPR and phosphate solubilizing bacteria(PSB) in combination with synthetic fertilizers can enhance crop productivity and soil fertility. Present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of PGPR and PSB inoculation with T1 Control(Recommended NP), T2(PGPR-1 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P),T3(PGPR-2 +PSB +¾ N + ¾ P), T4(PGPR-3 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T5(PGPR-4 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T6(PGPR-5 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T7(PGPR-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P).The inoculation of PGPR + PSB at 75%(T5 and T7) significantly increased chlorophyll content, no. of leaves, plant height, ear leaf area, ear inter nodes girth, flag leaf area over T1 in pot experiment. Similarly, the inoculation of PGPR + PSB with T2 and in combination with T1 also at 75% of recommended NP significantly increased chlorophyll content, no. of leaves, plant height, ear leaf area, ear inter nodes girth, flag leaf area over control in the field experiment. Inclusion of PGPR and PSB significantly increase grain and straw P contents as well as positively enhance soil nitrogen and phosphorus compared to T1 treatment. Present results implied that PGPR and PSB inoculation is a plausible strategy for increasing the nutrient availability to maize, and therefore an important tool to increase maize production under prevailing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]