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Background: Under current scenario of High cost of Production of Sugarcane crop, it is need of time to decide specific seed rate for individual varieties. Sugarcane seed contributes to 10-20% of cost of production and farmers invests about Rs. 20000/- per acre on planting material. The costs of seed can be curtailed by optimizing seed rate. Similarly, seed rate varies with different varieties. In this view, a field experiment was carried out to optimize the seed rate of promising sugarcane clones. Methods: A field experiment was carried using randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements having three replications at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Result: The results revealed that maximum cane diameter was recorded for S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 25000 and 50000 triple budded setts/ha. However; maximum number of canes/ha were recorded for S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 75000 setts/ha followed by HSF-240 at 75000 setts/ha. Maximum cane yield was noted for HSF-240 at seed rate of 75000 followed by S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 50000 and lowest can yield was recorded in S2003-US-127 at seed rate of 25000 triple budded setts/ha. Genotypic and phenotypic variances were higher for plant height (381.63, 133.91 cm) and cane yield (406.50, 330.65 kg/plot). Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variances were moderate for number of tillers (11.6%, 15.44%) and higher for cane yield (20.24%, 22.44%). It means that variability in 4 genotypes for cane yield was higher. Thus variety S2008-AUS-133 showed better performance at seed rate 75000 while during selection, number of tillers and height should be considered for further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weeds are one of major threats to crop yield and quality. Weeds compete with cane crop and reduce the yield significantly in a very short period. Planned use of all available farm resources leads to integrated control strategy. The current study aimed to study the use of inter row rotary weeder for integrated weeds management to control population dynamics of weeds in sugarcane crop. The objective of experiment is to find out economical, feasible and easy to use approach to minimize the weed density below the threshold level in sugarcane crop and to minimize the use of chemicals for weeds control to promote organic farming. Methods: In this research experiment, at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2017 and 2018, the treatment includes viz. Application od Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare as Pre-emergence, Ametryn + Atrazine 80 W.P @ 2.50 kg per hectare as post-emergence, Machanical Inter-culture with Rotary weeder and cultivator plough and earthing up. These treatments in different combinations were compared with control. Result: The application of Pre-emergence weedicide Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare + Inter culture with Rotary weeder 50 days after planting (DAP) + Inter culture with cultivator plough before earthing up (100 DAP) produced significantly higher cane yield of 105 t. ha-1 and highest net benefits per hectare of Rs. 156250/-. The lowest cane yield of 70 t. ha-1 was noted from the experimental units with Weedy check / control. If farmers use this approach, the use of post emergence weedicides will be minimized and will encourage organic farming with safe and healthy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variety identification assists the imperative goals such as alleviating legal claims and indorsing intellectual property rights and maintenance of genetic purity. The study was undertaken to appraise sugarcane clones for morphological physical characteristics for their use in breeding program, selection, identification and seed production. Experiment consisting of nine clones was sown at experimental area, Sugarcane Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad during 2017 and 2018. The trial was replicated thrice. Data were documented on morphological features at ten months’ age of crop. There were important differences among the clones for stalk height, cane diameter, leaf blade width and leaf length. The growth habit of S-2008-FD-25 was erect and others were semi erect. Maximum height of 455 cm was seen in S-2009-SA-8. Maximum number of leaves per plant was observed in S-2008-AUS-133. Leaf colour of all clones was green and semi erect attitude. Spines were present on sheath of S-2008-AUS-134 only. The shape of dewlap of all clones were deltoid. Splits were present in S-2005-US-54, S-2011-FD-18 and M-2238-89. Bud grooves on internodes were present on S-2011-SL-62 and PSR-97-41. The internodes were of cylindrical shape. Flowering was absent in all the clones. The morphological descriptors presented for identification of the nine sugarcane clones are twenty-eight, that are distinctive and can be used for proof of identity, variety selection breeding and commercial seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing greenhouse gas emission and global warming during climate change result in sudden and extreme weather occasions. Climate change is affecting sugarcane production in the world, especially in the developing countries because of poor forecasting systems and mitigating strategies, sudden occurrence of pests and diseases. Varieties play an important role for sustainable sugarcane production. Varieties either lose their potential after few years release in field or become susceptible to pests and diseases under day by day changing climatic scenario. To combat climate changes and replace of exiting sugarcane varieties, different field experiments were planned at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Sugarcane Research Station, Khanpur and zonal testing of Sugarcane clone in adaptability trials at Progressive Sugarcane growers from 2002 to 2019 . All experiments were designed in randomized complete block design in three replications. Sugarcane clone S2003-US-127 were used in all experiments along with standards varieties HSF-240, CPF-249, SPF-234 and CPF-246. It is concluded from the study that sugarcane clone S2003-US-127 fetched higher cane yield (111.3 t/ha), sugar yield (14.1 t/ha), sugar recovery (12.72%) and higher economic Index than HSF-240, CPF-249, SPF-234 and CPF-246HSF. It is fast growing and matures earlier in 240-270 days. It has CPF 250 is resistant to red rot and smut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds, often considered a "menace" are top-notch, adroit survivors having intrinsic value as source of biodiversity and various promising uses as bio-resource. Among other benefits, their use as feed/food source or raw material is still to be explored. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) a conspecific of rice has rapid growth, ability to uptake more fertilizer and produce large biomass. Lot of efforts are done for its management but little is known about its nutritive value and utilization as feed source for livestock. Therefore, the present study was carried out at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in 2017 and 2018 to optimize N level and harvesting time for improving growth and silage quality of weedy rice sown as sole crop. Treatments comprised of four N levels viz: 0, 100, 120 and 140 kg ha-1 and harvesting intervals viz. 15, 25 and 35 days after heading (DAH). Weedy rice harvested at different intervals after onset of heading stage was used for making silage and analysed for nutritive value. Results depicted that, maximum plant height, fertile tillers, panicle length, kernels per panicle and LA were obtained with 120 kg ha-1 N and harvesting at 25 DAH during both years, while NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose were highest with no fertilizer. Crude protein was highest with N application at 120 kg ha-1 and harvesting at 25 DAH. Highest nitrogen contents in plants, plant biomass, WSC, ash and DM in silage were recorded with 140 kg ha-1 N when harvested at 35 DAH. Weedy rice harvested at 25 DAH with N application at 120 kg ha-1 seems to be better combination for rational use of nutrients, better productivity and improving most of the nutritive traits of whole crop weedy rice silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current study was conducted to check the genetic exploration for quality aspect of brassica at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2017- 18. The parents and the crosses were evaluated following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Highly significant differences were noted among all the genotypes for seed oil, seedcake protein, glucosinolate, oleic acid and erucic acid contents showing high genetic potential for improvement. Analysis for the general combining ability showed almost significant differences except for protein that showed maximum non-significant difference among the lines. Significant difference were also noted among testers except for protein and erucic acid. Specific combining ability showed both significant and non-significant differences in positive and negative directions. Analysis for the components of genetic variance indicated that non-additive gene action played a significant role for the inheritance of the traits. This was further continued by GCA/SCA ratio values (0.040, 0.023, 0.0174, -0.0026, 0.178) which were less than 1 that depicted non-additive variance involved in these traits so as to achieve homozygous line. On basis of oil, erucic acid, oleic acid and glucosinolate these combinations viz. UAF12 × Torch, Toria × Candle, UAF11 × Torch and Span × Candle, were selected for SCA effects relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and GCA estimates. These combinations can be used as source of quality traits in further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyle eugenol and cue-lure were evaluated for monitoring the population of melon fruit fly in bitter gourd fields during 2007 in district Faisalabad and Sahiwal. Cue-lure appeared as more effective and resulted in higher male catches of fruit flies (171.82/trap/week) as compared to methyl eugenol (81.69/trap/week). At ecological conditions of Faisalabad, maximum temperature played maximum role i.e. 33.80 percent while average temperature and wind speed had the impact of 12.70 percent each on the population fluctuation. At ecological conditions of Sahiwal, maximum temperature again showed maximum contribution (40%) towards population fluctuation of melon fruit fly. Rainfall and wind speed positively correlated with the population of trapped melon fruit fly. Farmers can monitor the population of fruit fly with the trap and can control it efficiently and economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field study was conducted to estimate the combined effects of delayed irrigations under increased Management Allowed Depletion (MAD) level and moisture conservation practices on the yield and water productivity of maize crop. The experiment was carried out at Water Management Research Center (WMRC), University of Agriculture, Jhang Road Faisalabad. Total eight treatments, including conventional ridge sowing (CRS) without mulch (CRS + no mulch), conventional ridge sowing with mulch (CRS + mulch), bed-furrow sowing (BFS) without mulch (BFS + no mulch), bed-furrow planting with mulch (BFS + mulch), bed-furrow planting without mulch and with 60% MAD (BFS + no mulch + 60% MAD), bed-furrow planting with mulch and 60% MAD (BFS + mulch + 60% MAD), bed-furrow planting without mulch and 70% MAD (BFS + no mulch + 70% MAD), bed-furrow planting with mulch and 70% MAD(BFS + mulch + 70% MAD) were randomly allocated in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Each treatment was further replicated thrice in order to reduce the experimental error. Results showed that BFS + mulch + 60% MAD treatment increased the grain yield by 23% to 25%, total dry matter (TDM) by 7% to 10%, plant height by 11% to 12% and harvest index by 16% to 19% as compared to CRS + no mulch treatment. Furthermore, BFS with 70% MAD under with and without mulch resulted a significant reduction in plant traits. Additionally, delayed irrigation application reduced the water use by maize due to decrease in application losses on BFS under wheat straw mulch. It is concluded that mulching in BFS could be beneficial to harvest maximum yield of maize under deficit as well as normal irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]