Search

The agricultural sector faces the dual challenge of enhancing crop productivity and mitigating environmental impacts. Optimizing nutrient management is vital for sustainable agriculture, particularly in sloping terrains like the Himalayan region, where damaged soils require restoration. This study explores the synergistic effects of urea, poultry manure, and zeolite on wheat growth and yield in degraded mountainous soils. A total of twelve treatments were implemented in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times. The treatments included a control (T1); urea nitrogen at 120 kg N ha−1 (UN120) (T2); poultry manure (PM) at 120 kg N ha−1 (T3); zeolite-1 (Z1) at 5 t ha−1 (T4); zeolite-2 (Z2) at 5 t ha−1 (T5); UN120 + Z1 (T6); PM + Z1 (T7); UN120 + Z2 (T8); PM + Z2 (T9); ½ UN + ½ PM + Z1 (T10); ½ UN + ½ PM + Z2 (T11); and ½ UN + ½ PM + ½ Z1 + ½ Z2 (T12). The UN120 treatment demonstrated significant improvements in wheat growth, with notable increases in shoot length (79.7%), shoot fresh weight (50.8%), root length (50.6%), chlorophyll content (53.6%), and leaf area (72.5%) compared to the control. Wheat yield and its components experienced significant improvements when treated with urea nitrogen (UN) and zeolites. Among these treatments, UN120 exhibited the highest efficacy. Nutrient content analysis revealed substantial increases in shoot nitrogen (70.6%), phosphorus (33.3%), and potassium (15.6%) with UN120 treatment compared to the control. The concoction of UN and PM with zeolites further enhanced nutrient levels. Integrating mineral nitrogen sources with organic amendments and zeolites proved effective in enhancing wheat productivity in degraded mountainous soils. Despite positive results, further research is essential for widespread recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provided an insight on improving soil-plant micronutrients availability in response to poultry manure (PM), wheat milling residues (WMR) and urea N (UN) and their integration in wheat-soybean cropping system. The treatments were: control; poultry manure full, PM100; wheat milling residues full, WMR100; urea N full, UN100; PM half and WMR half, PM50+WMR50; UN50+PM50; UN50+WMR50; UN50+PM25+WMR25. All amendments were added at the rate or equivalent to 100 kg total N ha-1. Results indicated that the integrated treatments increased Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn uptake of wheat by 35.7-103%, 48.4-111.1%, 85.2-267.0% and 33.8-128.2%, respectively over control. In soybean the corresponding increase in micronutrient uptake (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) was 18.3-60.3%, 27.5-87.4%, 14.1-54.6% and 13.2-58.0% in integrated treatments. The post-harvest soil analysis indicated 2 to 3-fold increase in micronutrient content with highest values in PM100 i.e., 2.66 mg kg−1 for Cu, 14.41 mg kg−1 for Fe, 18.58 mg kg−1 for Mn and 2.44 mg kg−1 for Zn, respectively. The results showed that the PM either alone or in integrated with WMR and UN can be an effective management strategy for improving micronutrient content of soil-plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspected allelopathic activity of swine-cress (Coronopus didymus L.) was evaluated based on germination and early seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a laboratory bioassay. Aqueous root, leaf and whole plant extracts of swine-cress were applied at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% (w/v). Results revealed significant inhibition of germination and seedling growth of wheat for all extract sources and concentrations. Variable phytotoxicity was exhibited by different extract sources and leaf extract caused the greatest inhibition. Nonetheless, the degree of inhibition increased in a concentration dependent manner for all extract sources. Compared to the control all treatments increased the time to 50% germination, and mean germination time, with corresponding decreases in germination index and final germination percentage of wheat. Higher (10%) concentration of root, leaf and whole plant extracts reduced final germination by 36, 59 and 39%, respectively. Leaf extract caused more inhibition of wheat shoot length, root length and dry biomass than other extracts. Wheat seedling dry biomass was inhibited 73% by leaf extract, 65% by whole plant extract and 12% by root extract at 10% concentration. All extracts reduced chlorophyll contents and increased phenolics in wheat seedlings. The results suggest that the inhibitory allelopathic activity of swine-cress against germination and seedling growth of wheat should be explored under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction in herbicide usage without compromising yields can lead to less environmental harm and lower production costs. Field trials were conducted to appraise the efficacy of reduced doses (25, 50, and 75% of the label dose) of a post emergence sulfonylurea herbicide [Atlantis 3.6WG (iodo+mesosulfuron)] to control weeds in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields of Punjab, Pakistan. Below-labeled-doses were quite effective in suppressing total weed density (72-95%) and biomass (83-94%), and wheat grain yield was increased by 22 to 48% over the weedy control, while label dose of iodo+mesosulfuron improved yield by 53%. Iodo+mesosulfuron at 25 and 50% of the label dose inhibited grass weeds by 43 to 64%, albeit their biomass was suppressed by > 80% over control. Wheat yields for reduced herbicide doses (50 and 75%) were not different with label dose. Economic analysis revealed that the maximum marginal rate of return was recorded for 50% of the label herbicide dose and was followed by that observed for 25% of the label dose. Reduced doses of herbicide can be an effective tool in minimizing herbicide inputs and lowering production costs in wheat production without compromising yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The farmer's practice of buring the crop residues to clear the land before sowing is seen in various crop zones in Pakistan. In rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab, rice stubble is considered as a big problem for farmers. The crop stubbles damage the implements like cultivator rotavator that is why farmers prefers to burn these stubbles before preparation. The burning of rice stubble ease the field operations for wheat sowing but deteriorate the air and soil quality. To solve this problem of farmers, a research experiment was conducted during 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Agronomic Research Station Farooqabad to evaluate the effect of various sowing techniques on yields parameter and economics of wheat crop under rice wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid down with randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments included viz.T1: sowing with happy seeder (Zero tillage), T2: sowing of wheat without burning of rice stubble (Conventional Technique), T3: sowing of wheat by field preparation with Rotavator (two times), T4: sowing of wheat after burning stubbles of rice crop. The results of all treatments were significantly differed with each other. Maximum plant height (95 cm and 97 cm), numbers of productive tillers/m² (325 tillers/m² and 328 tillers/m2), thousand grain weight (39 g and 42 g), grain yield (3880 and 3700 kg/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.36 and 2.25) were recorded from the treatment where wheat crop was sown with happy seeder (zero tillage) during study years 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively than other techniques. It was concluded that farmers mayfetch higher yield and economics in wheat by sowing with happy seeder in rice wheat cropping system [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The allelopathic impact of aqueous extract (2.5 and 5%) and residues (2 and 4%) of five aquatic weeds namely Alternanthera philoxeroides, Alternanthera sessilis, Conyza stricta, Polygonum barbatum and Echinochloa crus-galli was investigated on the germination and early growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The aqueous extracts and residues of all tested weeds at different concentrations suppressed the germination/emergence percentage, mean germination/emergence time, and germination/emergence index and early seedling growth of wheat. Of the species tested, A. philoxeroides and A. sessilis showed the higher inhibition than C. stricta, P. barbatum and E. crus-galli. The results revealed that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and residues. Higher concentrations of extracts and residues had the stronger inhibitory effect. Aqueous extract caused more detrimental effect as compared to soil incorporated residues. Phytotoxins were identified as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, 4-hydroxy-3- methoxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, syringic acid and vanilic acid. It can be concluded that rice aquatic weeds contain allelopathic compounds in their tissues which may cause allelopathic effects on subsequent wheat crop in rice-wheat cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root, stem, leaf and inflorescence extracts of Echinochloa crus-galli plants were used to determine their inhibitory and stimulatory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of sunflower, wheat, barley, rice and maize. Leaf extract of E, crus-galli was the most detrimental for rice, maize and sunflower whereas stem extract was the most for wheat and barley germination. Leaf extract significantly delayed the test species germination (except sunflower) and decreased the germination index compared to control. The greatest inhibition of sunflower and wheat root length was noted with E. crus-galli leaf extract. Maximum inhibition of wheat and maize shoot length was caused by stem extract. Whereas root and leaf extracts caused more reduction in shoot length of barley and rice, respectively. Root extract of E. crus-galli stimulated root dry biomass accumulation of sunflower and wheat. In rice root and shoot dry matter accumulation was reduced with root, stem and inflorescence extracts. These results suggest that extracts from various parts of E. crus-galli may be a source of allelochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majority of Pakistani soils are deficient in phosphorus. Phosphorus is usually applied in form of synthetic fertilizer. However integrated use of P from synthetic and organic sources can be more profitable and beneficial on sustainable basis. Field trials were conducted at research farm University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan for two consecutive years to check the comparative effects of synthetic fertilizer and organic manures applied alone and in combinations on the phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), wheat yield and yield components. Shafaq-06 cultivar of wheat was used as test cultivar. Ten treatments were included: (I) Control (P0) without application of fertilizer; (II) SSP @ 60 kg/ha (P60SSP); (III) SSP @ 90 kg/ha (P90SSP); (IV) SSP @ 120 kg/ha (P120SSP); (V) PM @60 kg/ha (P60PM); (VI) PM @90 kg/ha (P90PM); (VII) PM @120 kg/ha (P120PM); (VIII) SSP @30 kg/ha + PM @30 kg/ha (P30SSP+30PM); (IX) SSP @45 kg/ha + PM @45 kg/ha (P45SSP+45PM); (X) SSP @60 kg/ha + PM @60 kg/ha (P60SSP+60PM) which were laid out under the Randomized Complete Block Design. Significantly higher values for yield of grain (2397 kg/ha) was recorded with PM + SSP @ 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 each. Likewise, FPUE, PIR of wheat and AFPUE was quite higher with combined use of PM and SSP i.e. P60SSP+60PM treatment. Additionally, increase in PUE, wheat yield and yield components associated with combined treated plot would help to minimize the use of high cost synthetic mineral fertilizers and represents an environmentally and agronomically sound management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]