Search

Drought stress during the crop growing season is one of the major threats to higher productivity of maize. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of beneficial fungus and antioxidants for improving drought tolerance of maize under field conditions. Treatments comprised of three different factors including (1) two levels of available moisture contents (70% and 30% available moisture contents; AMC), (2) seed treatment (untreated seeds and 20 μl g-1 fungus treated seeds) and (3) foliar application of antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbic acid) and fungal suspension. Drought stress decreased the morphological, growth and yield related attributes of maize compared with well-watered treatments. Averaged across the years, the reduction in root and shoot length was 30.5% and 20% respectively and the yield was reduced up to 48% under stress. Rate of lipid peroxidation as well as the production of antioxidants was generally increased under drought, however, seed treatment and foliar spray was effective in enhancing the maize growth and yield under stress condition by suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species. Averaged across the years, maize plants emerged from fungus treated seeds recorded significantly lower activities of SOD (79%), POD (41%) and CAT (84%) and enhanced the yield of maize by 48%. All the foliar spray treatments (fungal suspension, glutathione and ascorbic acid) triggered or at least helped in maintaining the antioxidant defense system of maize plants. Averaged across the years; increase in yield of maize due to foliar spray of fungal suspension, glutathione and ascorbic acid was 69%, 53% and 31%, respectively under drought. In crux, seed treatment with fungus, and foliar spray of glutathione were effective in enhancing the maize drought tolerance and such effects were attributed to alleviate the oxidative damage and maintenance of photosynthetic pigments. [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]

Agriculture production can be enhanced by considering all the farm operations especially the harvesting of crops is the more sensitive operation. The selection of appropriate farm machinery for harvesting not only save the harvesting time but also enhance the farm profitability. The agro-climatic and economic factors are the major hindrance on the way to adopt the harvesting machinery and latest movers in Pakistan. The objective of this work was to redesign an engine operated reaper at affordable price and performance evaluation of this reaper for harvesting three different crops (wheat, rice and brassica). Three levels of reaper ground speed (S) (1.94, 2.54 and 3.18 kmh-1) and three different levels of moisture contents (MC) for each crop were considered as factors. A (3 x 3) factorial analysis was conducted to see the impact of "MC" and "S" on percent slippage, field efficiency and shatter losses. The main effects of S and MC were significant for all the crops for each factor (p<0.05), except MC which was non-significant for shatter losses in wheat and rice (p= 0.0667) and (p=0.847), respectively. Statistical Analysis showed that selected levels of MC and S had significant effect on % slippage, field efficiency and shatter losses. The cost analysis indicated that the breakeven point of the modified reaper can be achieved after 19 days of purchase. Study demonstrated that grain losses can be minimized, and farm profitability can be maximized by selecting suitable combination of M and S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium-nutrition is a subject of great consideration, as research has revealed its importance in increasing sugar recovery in sugarcane. While it cannot achieve its genetic expression of yield without proper planting technology. Therefore, the present study was conducted to optimize the planting method and K level to improve the yield and sugar recovery of sugarcane at University of Agriculture Faisalabad in 2014-2016. Treatments comprised of four planting methods viz. i) 90 cm spaced pits with a diameter of 90 cm, ii) 90 cm spaced pits with a diameter of 90 cm in diagonal fashion, iii) 90 cm spaced double row strips and iv) 120 cm spaced trench planting in combination with four K nutrition levels i.e., 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha K2O. Results revealed that K application improved the growth, cane yield and sugar recovery irrespective of planting method. However, maximum number of tillers were recorded in sugarcane sown in diagonal pit planting at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O. Likewise, Leaf area index and net assimilation rate were substantially improved with K application in all planting methods. More cane weight (15%) was obtained at sugarcane sown in 120 cm spaced trenches with 200 kg/ha K2O during both the years. Stripped cane yield was maximum in diagonal pit planting at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O (113.7 t/ha) during the plant crop year and diagonal pit plantation + 200 kg/ha K2O (98.22 t/ha) during the ratoon crop year. Likewise, maximum potassium use efficiency (KUE) i.e. 99.5 and 88.2 kg /kg were recorded in planting of sugarcane in diagonal pits at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O during plant crop year and 120 cm trenches +100 kg/ha K2O during the ratoon crop year, respectively. Sugar recovery was also enhanced by all the K nutrition levels over control. The cultivation of sugarcane in 90 cm spaced pits with the supplementation of potash at 100 kg/ha gave the maximum sugar yield of 15.8 t/ha in plant crop year and 13.2 t/ha in the ratoon crop year. The combined economic analysis over two years (plant + ratoon year) revealed that sugarcane planting was more beneficial at 120 cm spaced trenches, with 100 kg potash/ha (3678$); which was followed by 90 cm diagonal pit plantation +100 kg/ha K2O which gave the combined benefits of 3611$. Sugar cane may be planted in 90 cm diagonal pits and 120 cm spaced trenches with 100 kg/ha potash to improve the cane yield and sugar recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High cadmium (Cd) concentration in soils is becoming a severe threat to environment. It deteriorates plants growth, yield, and quality of food. Although the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biochar and compost have been reported environment-friendly amendments for decreasing Cd stress in crop plants, but the impacts of their simultaneous co-application has not been well documented. Thus, current study was carried out to investigate the combined role of cadmium tolerant rhizobacteria, compost and biochar on the growth and Cd uptake in tomato under cadmium stress. Cd tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato grown on soil irrigated with industrial wastewater (effluents). Based on growth promotion traits and cadmium tolerance, four strains (J62, J156, J159, J165) were selected for conducting trial in growth chamber. Cadmium salt (CdCl2) and organic amendments were applied before transplanting of tomato seedlings and were inoculated with Cd tolerant rhizobacteria. After 4 weeks, plants were harvested for determination of Cd concentration and other parameters of plant. Results showed that cadmium caused reduction in all growth and physiological parameters of tomato. Sole and combined application of Cd tolerant PGPRs and organic amendments increased the growth of tomato and suppressed Cd uptake in tomato. But their interaction was more prominent as compared to sole application of each PGPRs and organic amendments. It was concluded that combined application of PGPR with organic amendments has a greater potential to suppress Cd uptake and improvement in growth of tomato under Cd stress, compared to the alone application of PGPR and organic amendments. Findings will be communicated to policy maker and extension worker for wide field application. [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]

Sugarcane is one of the most important cash crops grown in Pakistan which accounts for 3.4% share in agriculture value addition and 0.7% in gross domestic products (GDP). It is a tropical and perennial grass sensitive to the soil type, climate change, irrigation, insects, fertilizers, varieties and the harvest period. Pakistan annually produces 81.1 million metric tons (MMT) of sugarcane but unfortunately, about 30% sugarcane crop is lost at harvesting stage particularly due to deficiency of mechanized harvesting approaches. This study has been carried out to fabricate and performance evaluate a tractor propelled sugarcane harvester to reduce sugarcane losses during harvesting in Pakistan. The major components of indigenously developed sugarcane harvester include hydraulically operated bottom cutter, top cutter, blower and conveyor and all of them are fixed on a movable iron frame. For optimization, the sugarcane harvester was operated at three different gears (G1, G2 and G3) and engine speeds (N1=1800, N2=1900 and N3=2000 rpm) of tractor and working widths (Kw1=0.85, Kw1=0.92 and Kw3=1.02 m) of harvester for sugarcane variety CP-77400 to determine the maximum field efficiency and material capacity. The results showed that maximum field efficiency was found to be 75.10% and material capacity was 12.87 ton/hr at G3, N3 and Kw3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable nitrogen (N) losses lead to lower N use-efficiency (NUE) in salt-affected soils due to leaching and volatilization. A lysimeter experiment was conducted to determine NUE in two salt-affected soils of different texture (clay loam and sandy clay loam), using various rates of N fertilizer. The experiment used a three replicate completely randomized design. The treatments included five N rates, three higher (15, 30 and 45%) and two lower (15 and 30%) than recommended rate of 125 kg ha-1. Additionally, gypsum was added at 50 and 100% of soil gypsum requirement (SGR) in both salt-affected soils. Maximum paddy and straw yields were recorded for sandy clay loam saline-sodic soil collected from Village 132, Faisalabad (132S), using 45% higher N + gypsum at 100% SGR. Whereas clay loam saline-sodic soil, from Village 84, Faisalabad (84S) at 30% higher N rate with gypsum at 50% SGR gave the highest paddy and straw yields. In general, the clay loam soil produced more paddy yield than the sandy clay loam soil at similar N fertilization. In the sandy clay loam soil, gypsum at 100% SGR along with a 30% higher N rate increased the grain and straw yields of wheat significantly (p < 0.05) compared to application of gypsum at only 50% SGR. Nitrogen use efficiency was the highest with 45% higher N (N145) with gypsum applied @ 100% SGR compared to 50% SGR in severe salt-affected (sandy clay loam) soil during rice crop. From marginal clay loam saline-sodic soil, NUE remained higher with N130 along with gypsum @ 100% SGR which was statistically on par with gypsum @ 50% SGR. It was concluded that NUE remained highest with N130 and N145 with gypsum applied @ 100% SGR during rice crop from clay loam and sandy clay loam soils, respectively. Moreover, NUE was higher at recommended N fertilization when gypsum was applied at 100% SGR during wheat crop which was also attributed to improved soil chemical properties, i.e. pHs, ECe and SAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]