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Growing nursery plants in containers usually requires the addition of fertilizer to achieve optimal growth. However, misconceptions among growers often lead them to apply quantities of fertilizers exceeding the recommended dose, resulting in nutrient runoff and increased production costs. Reducing fertilizer application is beneficial to have healthy plants and environment as well as to save on fertilizer costs. In this study, we wanted to determine the minimal level of phosphorus (P) required to grow bedding plants i.e. Lysimachia nummularia 'creeping jenny' (moneywort) and Vinca minor 'Bowles' (periwinkle) in nursery. The plants were grown within a greenhouse in a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, and rice hulls (3:1:1 v/v) substrates and subjected to various P treatments. The treatments included single dose of 1, 3, or 6 mg/L of P, double doses of 3 or 6 mg/L of P, or a control that received 6 mg/L of P at each irrigation. The results indicated that single dose of 6 mg/L of P had similar fresh weight compared to control in both taxa. Reducing P application further to a single dose of 1 and 3 mg/L reduced fresh weight and leaf area in both groundcovers however did not reduce their stem length or physiological parameters such as Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Phosphorus concentration in the plant tissue at maturity was lower in all treatments than control for both the taxa. During the study period, control plants received 26 times the dose of P compared to plants receiving 6 mg/L of P once. Therefore, this study outlines the possibility of reducing P fertilizer application while growing these groundcovers in nurseries for sale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petunia hybrida, widely grown as a bedding plant, has reduced growth and flower quality at temperatures above 30 °C (heat stress), primarily due to heat stress‐induced ethylene (ET) production. The gene acdS encodes the 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC) deaminase (ACCD) enzyme, which is known for its role in reducing ET production by breaking down the ET precursor, ACC, in plant tissues.This study investigated the impact of heat stress on both 'Mirage Rose' WT petunia and its acdS‐overexpressing transgenic lines.Heat stress‐induced growth inhibition was observed in WT plants but not in transgenic plants. The increased stress tolerance of transgenic plants over WT plants was associated with lower ET production, ROS accumulation, higher SPAD values, water content, and relative water content. Furthermore, higher sensitivity of the WT to heat stress than the transgenic plants was confirmed by analysing ET signalling genes, heat shock transcription factor genes, and antioxidant‐ and proline‐related genes, more strongly induced in WT than in transgenic plants.Overall, this study suggests the potential application of acdS overexpression in other floriculture plants as a viable strategy for developing heat stress‐tolerant varieties. This approach holds promise for advancing the floricultural industry by overcoming challenges related to heat‐induced growth inhibition and loss of flower quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are used for wastewater treatment, which is a natural and ecological method. It is an alternative to conventional methods for wastewater from various sources. Because they take advantage of the capabilities of nature and naturally occurring adapted plants, they are characterized by their ability to carry out many processes and transformations that they carry out themselves and those occurring within them, such as in the aerobic and anaerobic zones of the root zone. Microorganisms present in the soil provide additional support for the vegetation, supporting the treatment processes. Due to the rising cost of wastewater treatment in typical wastewater treatment plants, the hydrophytic method is becoming competitive due to the low expenses associated with its operation and control. This method also works well for industrial wastewater, including tannery wastewater. Wastewater from the tanning industry is troublesome to manage and can also be a source of chromium, while studies have confirmed the possibility of treating such wastewater on plant beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) is an important potted flowering plant or bedding plant widely used in tropical and subtropical regions. However, most Angelonia cultivars have relatively small flowers and demonstrate limited drought tolerance in rootrestricted environments such as small containers. Polyploid plants often exhibit larger flowers and enhanced drought tolerance. In this study, Angelonia 'Serena White' seeds and 'Serena Purple' seedlings were treated with 0.1% and 0.2% colchicine to induce polyploid lines, respectively. The resulting tetraploids had larger pollen and flowers, along with thicker, greener leaves distinguished by serrated edges, longer stomata, and lower stomatal density compared with diploid 'Serena White' and 'Serena Purple' plants. Both diploid and tetraploid plants subjected to a 20% volumetric water content (VWC) treatment exhibited smaller leaves, higher SPAD-502 readings, and a decreased number of flowers compared with those subjected to 40% VWC treatment. Moreover, tetraploids had higher photosynthetic rates than diploids under both 20% and 40% VWC conditions. When grown in 0.8-L containers, tetraploid plants required fewer watering events and had thicker, erect stems with larger flowers than diploids, even under a 20% VWC treatment. Colchicine-induced polyploidization presents a promising method to potentially enhance drought tolerance in angelonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests appeared during the Middle to Late Devonian, but Devonian forests and their compositions are still rarely known. Xinhang forest was reported as the largest Devonian forest, with lycopsid trees of Guangdedendron micrum Wang et al. A fern-like plant Xinhangia spina Yang and Wang with shoots and anatomy, was previously described from this forest, but its habit and ecology remain unclear. From Xinhang forest, we now report more specimens of fern-like plants including X. spina and some unnamed plants in several beds. Prominent adventitious roots, spines and secondary xylem indicate that the stems of X. spina are largely procumbent to function as anchorage, absorption and support. Other fern-like plants with distinct roots or multiple slender branches also suggest procumbent habits. Xinhang forest is thus reconsidered as multispecific with a canopy of lycopsid trees and understory of diverse fern-like plants, which are adapted to the disturbed coastal environment. The composition of Xinhang forest may indicate a structural transition of the early forests' dominator from fern-like plants to lycopsids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In science, technology and assistance to smallholder farming or large crop acreages of Stevia rebaudiana is necessary to report data using information components to facilitate investors to understand the local field conditions to make assertive economic decisions for long periods. Stevia rebaudiana produces consistent natural sweeteners with safe performance as reported in a multitude of scientific publications. The leaf chemicals components are suitable to humans with healthy disorders affected by the consumption of sugarcane or many other industrial sweeteners. Otherwise, aspects related to the agriculture of sweeteners production still require additional discussion to improve qualitative and quantitative traits necessary for cultivating cost-effective crops. The current text highlighted some agriculture decisions necessary to make the crop more profitable to investors as researchers, agriculture influencers, farmer assistants and consultants of companies looking for alternatives within agro-ecological systems.

• Macropropagation is a low cost farmer friendly technique for large scale production of quality planting material in banana. • Macropropagation technique is likely to bridge the gap in supply of healthy planting material at a reasonable cost to the small and marginal farmers. • Musa cvs. Rasthali and Neypoovan, are the two most important choice varieties in the southern parts of India. • Sucker pre-treatment and age had a significant influence on the propagation rate. • Macropropagated plants of both cultivars performed at par with conventional suckers under field conditions and the survival rate was 100 %. Macropropagation is a low cost farmer friendly alternative to tissue culture propagation to cater to the farmers' need for quality planting material at an affordable cost. Attempts were made to study the effect of age and hot water treatment on macropropagation of cvs. Rasthali (AAB, Silk) and Neypoovan (AB, Neypoovan) in pot and bed methods. Age of the sucker, hot water treatment and propagation method played a vital role on shoot bud production in both the test cultivars. In cv. Rasthali, bed method produced maximum number of plants (50.5) in five months old suckers subjected to hot water treatment in 42.2 days but the same treatment produced only 24.7 plants under pot method. In cv. Neypoovan, five months old suckers subjected to hot water treatment resulted in 23.3 and 16.7 plants in bed and pot methods respectively. Therefore, five months old suckers with hot water treatment under bed method are more appropriate for macropropagation purpose in banana. Results of field evaluation indicated that macropropagated bananas were at par with control in respect of all plant parameters like plant height, bunch weight and fruit parameters like total soluble sugar (TSS) and acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma spp. are widely reported to regulate plant growth by improving nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and abiotic stress tolerance. However, their possible application for bedding plants is little explored, especially when comparing different growing media. Considering that coconut coir dust is finding broader application in the ornamental plants sector as a peat substitute, this work was aimed to test the combination of Trichoderma atroviride AT10 and coconut coir dust on Impatiens walleriana plants. Four treatments were tested as a mix of: (i) two growing media (70:30), peat:perlite or coconut coir dust:perlite; and (ii) the absence or presence of a T. atroviride treatment. At the end of the production cycle, the biomass and ornamental parameters, leaf pigments, nutrient content of the plant tissues, and Trichoderma abundance were assessed. The results revealed that T. atroviride can readily colonize coir, and the same positive effects of inoculum were found in plants grown on both substrates. The biostimulant effect of T. atroviride was observed as an increase in the aboveground biomass, number and weight of flowers, pigments and nutrient concentration, thereby improving the commercial quality of I. walleriana. Thus, T. atroviride has shown its potential in making bedding plant cultivation more sustainable and improving the yield and aesthetic parameters of plants grown on peat and coconut coir dust substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: While most research on claw diseases focuses on dairy cattle, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of claw disorders in beef cattle in northeast Portugal. The investigation was an observational study carried out at two slaughterhouses, in which claw lesions were assessed according to the ICAR Claw Health Atlas. The influence of sex and age and the potential economic impact on hot carcass weight, carcass classification, and fat coverage were investigated. The results revealed a high animal prevalence of claw lesions (65.8%), with the primary lesions being of a non-infectious mechanical nature, including heel horn erosion, double sole, and asymmetric claws. The lesions found are consistent with the production method in the area under study, where beef cattle are raised in small, rustic premises with uneven floors and beds made of a mix of manure and plant material. Also, the impact of claw lesions on carcass characteristics (weight, classification, and fat deposition) was not evident. Thus, the presence of claw lesions in beef cattle raised under the conditions of this geographical area does not seem to cause a negative impact on both animal health and the farm economy. Claw diseases have a profound impact on cattle welfare, affecting behaviors such as grazing, rumination, rest, decubitus, and water consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of claw lesions and classify them according to the ICAR Claw Health Atlas (International Committee of Animal Recording) in two slaughterhouses. The influence of claw lesions on carcass weight, classification, and fat deposition was also examined. Involving 343 crossbreed cattle from 103 different extensive or semi-intensive farms, this study found an animal prevalence of claw disorders at 65.8%, with a higher incidence in females (n = 207, 60.35%) compared to males (n = 136, 39.65%). Despite the observed prevalence, claw lesions were not influenced by age or sex (p > 0.05). The main claw lesions identified, including heel horn erosion, double sole, and asymmetric claw, were consistent with the cattle management practices in the study area. These cattle were raised in small, rustic premises with uneven floors, utilizing a mix of manure and plant material as bedding and lacking access to pasture. Also, no negative economic impact was detected concerning carcass weight, classification, or fat deposition. Consequently, it was concluded that the presence of claw lesions in beef cattle raised under the characteristic management of this geographical area does not adversely affect animal health or farm economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste sludge is characterized by high moisture, volatile compounds, toxic compounds, and ashes. The efficient operation of a commercial fluidized bed combustion (FBC) plant is important for reducing operational costs. We selected a commercial FBC plant for industrial waste sludge combustion to investigate the mass balance of the FBC process and the performance of the air pollution control device. Based on fuel analysis, the flow rate of incineration air was calculated as 4567 Nm3/h. After FBC combustion, the flow rate of the incineration gas increased to 8493.8 Nm3/h. Analysis of the heat balance showed that some heat potential was lost through leakage during the combustion process. The temperature of the incineration gas decreased to 200 °C at the inlet of the air pollution control device. According to the hazardous air pollutant emission testing of sampling points, the operation factors of lime slurry injection for SOx and HCl in the semi-dry reactor were 64.20 and 4.81 kg/h, respectively. In the wet scrubber, the operation factors of NaOH for SOx and HCl were 23.88 and 3.14 kg/h, respectively. At these operation factors, the available waste generation in the semi-dry reactor and wet scrubber was optimized to 76.6 and 42.57 kg/h, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric lighting is often necessary to achieve a target daily light integral (DLI) for the production of high-quality young annual bedding plants (plugs). Early in production, plugs have a low leaf area index that limits light interception and likely results in wasted radiation supplied by electric sources. Previous research has shown that the addition of far-red radiation (700-780 nm) to the radiation spectrum in sole-source lighting experiments or the use of end-of-day far-red (EOD-FR) radiation treatments can promote an increase in leaf expansion and leaf area for many species. However, leaf expansion in response to far-red radiation may depend on other factors such as the ratio of red (600-699 nm) to far-red radiation (R:FR) and air temperature. Thus, the objectives of this work were to examine the effects of far-red radiation applied throughout the photoperiod and as an end-of-day radiation treatment on the morphology of petunia 'Dreams Midnight' seedlings grown under different temperature conditions. Specifically, petunia seed was sown in 128-cell trays and moved to one of two growth chambers set at 16 or 21 °C when cotyledons unfolded. Seedlings received an equal total photon flux density (400-780 nm) of 164 mmol·m22·s21 for a 17.25-hour photoperiod, and either a high (~10.7) or low R:FR (0.5). Low R:FR-treated seedlings were grown at a constant temperature of either 16 or 21 °C and placed under blackout conditions at the end of the photoperiod. High R:FRgrown seedlings received either a 1-hour end-of-day white (EOD-W) or EOD-FR treatment at the end of the photoperiod, and were grown at a constant 16 or 21 °C; one EOD-FR treatment was also shifted from the 21 °C chamber to the 16°C at the end of the photoperiod for both the EOD-FR treatment and subsequent dark period. Seedlings were harvested at 21 and 28 days after treatment initiation. For petunia seedlings grown at 21 °C, EOD-FR treatments had minimal effect on morphology or dry mass as all measured parameters, including total and average leaf area and stem length, were similar to EOD-W treatments. In contrast, low R:FR-treated seedlings showed responses characteristic of plants grown under shade, including significant stem elongation, an increase in total and average leaf area, and a reduction in leaf mass per unit area. As expected, production at 16 °C slowed the growth of petunia seedlings resulting in much smaller plants compared with the 21 °C grown plants, but shade responses such as elongated leaves and stems under a low R:FR were apparent. The EOD-FR-treated seedlings that received the diurnal temperature shift also showed reduced leaf area and dry mass compared with their constant 21 °C counterparts. Shade responses were observable at both 16 and 21 °C for low R:FR-grown plants, but the quantifiable impact of temperature on far-red responses could not be fully determined in the present study. Further research is warranted investigating crop responses to far-red radiation as well as potential interacting environmental factors as the promotion of morphological responses, such as leaf expansion, early in production may prove a useful strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased number of buildings in urban areas limits the creation of vegetated areas, leading to the search for alternatives to create spaces to promote contact with nature. In this context, green roofs have been increasingly studied. These structures have specific microclimatic conditions requiring an accurate study of the most appropriate vegetation to use. This study aims to analyze the long-term viability of vegetation installed on an experimental green roof open-air lab. This analysis was performed using images obtained from photographic records and later inserted into the ImageJ program, in order to identify species and evaluate the area covered by vegetation. Only a few of the species that were planted in the test beds over the years have persisted to the present, while other species have spontaneously appeared. Also, surveys were used to learn about people's preferences for the vegetation on these test beds. These showed that people favor recognizable plants with plenty of vibrantly colored blossoms. It is feasible to choose the best plants for green roofs in the studied conditions as a result of this analysi sconsidering the ground cover percentage by vegetation, its persistence, and the preferences of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative to current liquid amine technologies for post‐combustion CO2 capture, new technologies such as adsorbent‐based processes are developed, wherein material lifetime and degradation is important. Herein a robust method to determine degradation rates in a laboratory setup is developed, which was validated with a continuous multi‐staged fluidized bed pilot plant designed to capture 1 ton CO2 per day. An amine functionalized polystyrene adsorbent showed very good agreement between the experimental 1000‐hour laboratory degradation rates and 2200 hours of degradation in a pilot plant. This validates how laboratory experiments can be extrapolated for sorbent screening and for scale‐up. Resulting, the oxidative degradation in the desorber at high temperatures (120 °C) and low O2 concentrations (150 ppmv) is 3 times higher compared to the adsorber at low temperatures and high O2 (56 °C, 7 vol %). Laboratory degradation experiments can hence be used to further optimize process operations to limit degradation or screen for potential new adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hight birth rate in developing countries generates huge amounts of faecal sludge to treat at a given time. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 95% of households are not connected to a sewerage system for excreta disposal, and faecal sludge treatment of plants is almost absent, thus the necessity of developing cost-effective technologies to contain their harmful effect. In response to this preoccupation, pilot scale experiments combining drying beds with maturation ponds were conducted in Yaounde (Cameroon) for the treatment of faecal sludge. Raw faecal sludge was applied once a week at a load of 200 kg DM/m2/yr. on a 1 m2 section drying bed planted with Echinochloa pyramidalis plant for dehydration. The leachate obtained was subsequently polished in two shallow maturation ponds (50 cm depth) in series, following a varying hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4, 7, and 10 days. Results showed the set-up to be effective at 10 days HRT in reducing significantly (p < 0.05) nutrient and organic pollutants as well as faecal coliforms in the final effluent compared to 4 and 7 days. However, suspended solids removal remained inefficient due to high algal biomass. The performance of the system enabled the treatment to meet the requirements of the Cameroonian guidelines for discharge and reuse in non-restricted agriculture. These results constitute advancement towards a comprehensive treatment of faecal sludge with the perspective of reuse of the effluent. Validation of this treatment scheme at full scale is ongoing for its adoption and implementation in the Cameroon national sanitation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of biostimulants containing amino acids, humic acids, oligosaccharides and glycosides on the growth parameters and nutrient status of French marigold. The experiments were carried out in the glasshouse and field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, during 2009, 2010 and 2011. Young French marigold plants (cultivar 'Hero Orange') were treated with Radifarm® or tap water as a control. At the end of May, the seedlings were transplanted into outdoor beds and plants in the treatment group were further treated with Megafol®, Viva® and Kendal®, while plants in the control group continued to only receive tap water. At the end of the experiment, the following parameters were recorded for each plant: plant height (cm), plant diameter (cm), flower diameter (cm), number of flowers, fresh and dry weight (g), and concentrations of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the roots and above-ground parts. It was found that the application of biostimulants increased the quality of these ornamental plants by improving their ability to overcome temperature stress and their nutrient uptake from the soil, which would reduce the need for fertiliser application and consequently environmental contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rivers were often cut off during engineering construction in regions with dense river network, causing severe deterioration of the river eco-system. Due to little research conducted on the blocked river remediation, this study applied integrated engineering measures including aeration, planted floating beds, fiber biofilm carriers, and microbial reagents to remediate a blocked river in-situ. The concentrations of NH3 -N, total phosphorus (TP), and CODMn of the blocked river were markedly reduced, with removal efficiencies of 50.5-94.7%, 15.8-78.2%, and 30.4-78.7% after 3-months remediation, respectively. Negative correlations were found between NH3 -N and temperature, pH, between TP and pH, probably due to season and/or pH dependent biological processes. Positive correlation between CODMn and dissolved oxygen suggests the efficiency of artificial aeration in COD elimination. The biofilms developed on fibers showed temporal and spatial variations in quantity and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) composition. The biofilm EPS was dominated by humic acid-like compounds with low freshness, while the dissolved organic matter in the river mainly consisted of aromatic proteins and fulvic acid-like compounds with high freshness which may attributed to the microbial reagents. No secondary pollution from sediment was observed. Results suggest integrated ecological remediation as a feasible strategy for the blocked river remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to optimize the production of bio-oil from Leucaena leucocephala wood using a fluidized bed reactor. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the fast pyrolysis through three operational parameters: pyrolysis temperature, nitrogen flow rate, and temperature of the first condensation stage. The optimum conditions obtained for bio-oil production were 500 °C, 26.4 L min–1, that is, about 3.3 times the minimum fluidization flow, and 80 °C, respectively. The bio-oil obtained under optimum conditions was of good quality and did not require further treatment. Physical properties of the bio-oil were analysed according to ASTM D7544-12. In addition, the chemical composition of the non-condensed gases and bio-oil were identified using GC–MS. The non-condensed gases were found to contain mainly ketones and lignin derivatives, while the bio-oil contained cyclic ketones, alcohol ethers, aromatic alcohols, and lignin derivatives. The study found that increasing the pyrolysis temperature did not significantly increase the yield of H2 and CO for syngas production. Regarding the solid obtained, a large amount of unreacted material (66.7 wt.%) is generated at 400 °C, and as the temperature is increased, a high-quality biochar is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correct cultivation technique supported by scientific evidence that leads to high-quality standards can promote sustainable floriculture. It is urgent to find alternative solutions to the widely used chemical fertilizers and evaluate the effectiveness of other fertilizers. The liquid organic ones, already in use in organic vegetable farming, could be a good substitute if supplied together with growth-promoting products such as microbial biostimulants. In the hope of replacing the traditional chemicals with a more sustainable organic-based fertilization, the present investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of a microbial biostimulant and various combinations of organic and mineral fertilization on morphological characteristics and physiological parameters of Tagetes patula L. and Ageratum houstonianum Mill. The plants were grown in pots with a substrate inoculated or not with the microbial biostimulant and were fertigated with nutrient solutions at different concentrations of elements from mineral and/or organic sources. Six fertilization formulas were adopted: control (only water without fertilizer), 100% mineral fertilization, 50% mineral fertilization, 100% organic fertilization, 50% organic fertilization, and 50% mineral + 50% organic fertilization. For the organic fertilization, a commercial liquid fertilizer admitted in organic farming with 3-2-5.5 NPK with 3% organic nitrogen was used. Mineral fertilization was formulated to match the organic solution as closely as possible. We observed an improvement in ornamental value (stem diameter and shoot number) with the biostimulant inoculum. Generally, the 50% mineral and 50% organic fertilization did not negatively influence the morphological characteristics. The reduction by 50% in the mineral nutrients and the integration of this reduction with an organic fertilizer was feasible to produce potted plants of these species during spring in the Mediterranean area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Melon is one of the most appreciated and consumed vegetables in the world. However, root diseases result in limited crop production, making it necessary to search for solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of biotic and abiotic elicitors controlling root rot and vine decline in melon using two experiments. First, plant beds were set at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, to select the treatments that induced the lowest disease severity. Another experiment was carried out under field conditions on a melon-producing farm. The plant bed experiment consisted of randomized blocks of eight treatments (i.e., salicylic acid, salicylic acid + Compost Aid®, Bion®, Bion® + Compost Aid®, Agro Mos®, Agro Mos® + Compost Aid®, Compost Aid®, and absolute control) with four replicates. The variables analyzed were disease incidence and severity. The same experimental design was used in the field, with five treatments (i.e., standard (management adopted at the farm), Bion®, Compost Aid®, Bion® + Compost Aid®, and absolute control) with four replicates. Epidemiological, biochemical, yield, and post-harvest variables were analyzed. Bion® + Compost Aid® reduced the incidence and severity of melon root rot by 30.4% and 44.1% under plant bed conditions and 23.1% and 37.6% under field conditions, respectively. The combined Bion® + Compost Aid® elicitors induced melon defenses through the activation of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzymes and positively influenced productivity and soluble solids. Therefore, the application of Bion® + Compost Aid® is suitable for the management of root rot in melon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of calcium (Ca) spray applications derived from Ca chloride for reducing botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) infection severity on petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) flowers. This study examines the effects of six Ca sources for their efficacy in reducing Botrytis blight on petunia flowers and their potential to cause spray damage or phytotoxicity. In the first experiment, the six Ca sources evaluated were laboratory-grade and commercial-grade Ca chloride, Ca nitrate, Ca ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelate, Ca amino acid chelate, and Ca silicate. In the second experiment, petunia flowers that were 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 days old at the time of the Ca spray applications were evaluated for spray damage severity. For both experiments, treatments were applied to flowering plants. For the evaluation of Botrytis blight efficacy, flowers were excised and inoculated with botrytis spores 24 hours after the Ca spray application, and were evaluated every 12 hours for 72 hours. Laboratory-grade and commercial-grade Ca chloride at 1250 mg⋅L–1 Ca were the most effective Ca sources evaluated for decreasing Botrytis blight severity while not causing spray damage at any flower age. Spray damage to the flowers from the Ca chloride application increased when Ca concentrations increased to 2000 mg⋅L–1, but no additional benefit was observed for reducing Botrytis blight severity compared with the 1250-mg⋅L–1 Ca application. The results demonstrate that several Ca sources reduce Botrytis blight severity significantly; however, selection of the Ca source is important for minimizing the risk of spray damage.

This study examined the interaction between constant liquid fertilization (CLF) concentrations and plant growth regulator (PGR) application concentrations on petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) growth and flowering in the production and post-production environments. Paclobutrazol application is a common practice in bedding plant production to achieve a compact plant that increases greenhouse space-use efficiency, shipping density, and tolerance to physical handling stresses in the post-production environment. The objective of this research was to determine the best strategy for balancing CLF and PGR application concentration in the greenhouse environment so that growth and flowering can be maximized in the post-production environment. A two-factorial combination of four CLF concentrations [50, 100, 150, or 200 ppm nitrogen (N)] and four paclobutrazol drench concentrations (0, 5, 10, or 20 ppm) were provided to plants during the production phase, and plant growth and flowering were recorded in the production and post-production environments. From a sustainability perspective, the ideal PGR concentration was 5 ppm paclobutrazol, since this concentration resulted in the best combination of production and post-production characteristics and performance. At this PGR concentration, all plant growth and flowering measures increased as CLF increased from 50 to 200 ppm N; however, all CLF concentrations also produced commercially acceptable plants. Therefore, the ideal CLF concentration depends on the size of plant desired; that is, CLF concentrations as low as 50 to 100 ppm N can be provided depending on the market size requirements of the plants being grown. Based on our results, a combination of 50 ppm N CLF with 0 ppm paclobutrazol or 100 ppm N CLF with 5 ppm paclobutrazol both demonstrated adequate growth control during both production and post-production phases.

Trichoderma spp. are widely reported to regulate plant growth by improving nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and abiotic stress tolerance. However, their possible application for bedding plants is little explored, especially when comparing different growing media. Considering that coconut coir dust is finding broader application in the ornamental plants sector as a peat substitute, this work was aimed to test the combination of Trichoderma atroviride AT10 and coconut coir dust on Impatiens walleriana plants. Four treatments were tested as a mix of: (i) two growing media (70:30), peat:perlite or coconut coir dust:perlite; and (ii) the absence or presence of a T. atroviride treatment. At the end of the production cycle, the biomass and ornamental parameters, leaf pigments, nutrient content of the plant tissues, and Trichoderma abundance were assessed. The results revealed that T. atroviride can readily colonize coir, and the same positive effects of inoculum were found in plants grown on both substrates. The biostimulant effect of T. atroviride was observed as an increase in the aboveground biomass, number and weight of flowers, pigments and nutrient concentration, thereby improving the commercial quality of I. walleriana. Thus, T. atroviride has shown its potential in making bedding plant cultivation more sustainable and improving the yield and aesthetic parameters of plants grown on peat and coconut coir dust substrates.

The tulip is an important cut flower around the globe. The Tulip is not famous in Pakistan for sale and cultivation for commercial purposes as well. The evaluation of exotic varieties are very important for recommendation to local farmers for better yield. Four tulip varieties cv. Antarctica, Oxford, Ballerina and Apeldoorn were purchased for evaluation. The 100 bulbs of each variety were planted in the bed. The performance of the plants during 2017-18 were judged by observing the bulb germination percentage, leaf width (cm), leaf length (cm), scape length (cm), flower size (mm), primary color of the flower, secondary color of flower, no. of large, medium and small size of bulbs and number of bulbs harvested. The bulbs were harvested and stored at 5±2oC (In Refrigerator). The morphological attributes of plants were observed better in cv. Antarctica and Oxford. The research was repeated during the subsequent years. The variable response was observed in various varieties of tulip in Rawalpindi climate. The cv. Antarctica and Oxford were observed as best performer wise all the attributes. The same varieties are recommended to local farmers for cultivation as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A field experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Department. Experimental Farm, Agriculture Fac., Assiut Univ., during the growing seasons of 2020/21 and 2021/22 to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizers rates and planting methods on grain yield and its components of six wheat cultivars (bread wheat) (Misr 2, Sids 14, Gemaiza 11, Shandweel 1, Giza 171 and Sids 12). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in this experiment with three replications using strip - plot arrangement. The planting methods (flat, ridges and raised beds) were arranged horizontally, while nitrogen rates (50, 75 and 100 kg/feddan.) were arranged vertically as well as the tested wheat cultivars were dole out in the sub plots. The outcome expressed that Gemmeiza11 cultivar recorded the maximum significant mean values of all examined characters (seed index, weight of kernels per spike, grain yield (ardeb/feddan.) and straw yield (ton/feddan.)) compared with other wheat cultivars examined except the number of kernels spike-1 trait which reacted significantly for Sids 12 in both seasons. Furthemore, the nitrogen application level 100 kg/fed. recorded maximum significant average values of grain yield (ardeb/feddan.) and straw yield (ton/feddan) in both seasons. Also, planting wheat plants on raised beds gained the maximum mean values of grain and straw yields in both seasons compared to other tested planting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out in a randomised block design to find out the effect of chickpea based intercropping systems on growth parameters and competitive indices, with four replications at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19. Results showed that intercropping systems did not significantly influence the plant height of chickpea but DMA, LAI, chlorophyll index and PAR interception in chickpea was significantly reduced with different intercropping systems. Among various intercropping systems, chickpea + oats fodder (2:1) was found to be best intercropping system as it produced higher land equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio and monetary advantage index in comparison to sole chickpea. Growing of oats fodder with chickpea showed more compatibility and there was no competition and adverse effect of oats fodder on chickpea. Chickpea + oats fodder (4:1), chickpea + linseed (2:1) and chickpea + linseed (4:1) also performed better with respect to Land equivalent ratio (LER), Area time equivalent ratio (ATER) and Monetary advantage Index (MAI). Oilseed rape and barley showed negative impact on growth parameters and were aggressive when they grow as intercrops with chickpea association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzy clustering has been widely applied in T-S fuzzy model identification for nonlinear systems, however, tradition type-1 fuzzy clustering algorithms can't deal with uncertainties in real world, an improved interval type-2 fuzzy c-regression model (IT2-FCRM) clustering is proposed for T-S fuzzy model identification in this paper. The improved IT2-FCRM adapts a new objective function, which makes the boundary of clustering more clearly and reduces the influence of outliers or noisy data on clustering results. The premise parameters of T-S fuzzy model are upper and lower hyperplanes obtained by improved IT2-FCRM, and the upper and lower hyperplanes are used to build hyper-plane-shaped type-2 Gaussian membership function. Compared with the hyper-sphere-shaped membership function of tradition IT2-FCRM, the hyper-plane-shaped membership function is more coincided with point to plane sample distance described by FCRM clustering. The simulation results of several benchmark problems and a real bed temperature in circulating fluidized bed plant show that the identification algorithm has higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carrot seeder that utilizes a cylindrical component serving as both hopper/metering device to deposit seeds precisely into planting beds/hills at a uniform interval along a straight row over a plant bed was developed in this study. The seeder was evaluated at different operating speeds (89, 70, 61, 51, 48, 38, and 34 cm s−1) relative to mean number of seeds planted in each hill, hill center, scattering distance ratio, hill spacing and missed hills. The seeder was able to deposit seeds in each hill ranging from 2.8 to 4.0 at all speeds. The mean hill center and missed hills suggested that the seeder is best operated at speed under 70 cm s−1 with the respective values ranging from 0.9 to 1.6 cm and 0–5.5%. This indicates that number of the seeds dropped per hill was very uniform, which is a good indicator of the seeding performance. The hill center and missed hills at 89 cm s−1 were 3.08 cm and 16.67% respectively were significantly higher than at lower speeds. Other operating performances such as the mean number of seeds deposited in each hill and the distance between hills did not appear to vary with the planting speed. The scattering distance ratios of operating speeds from 34 to 61 cm s−1 were less than 30% and therefore acceptable for hill dropping of carrot seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the growth and water consumption efficiency of five garden plants (marigold (Tagetes erecta ‘Red Brocade’), moss-rose (Portulaca grandiflora ‘Sun Rose’), dahlia (Dahlia sp. ‘Double Opra’), gazania (Gazania splendens ‘New Day’), and Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella. ‘Sun Dance’)) during the warmer seasons of the year under various levels of drought stress based on field capacity (FC; 25, 50, 75, and 100 %). The interaction effect of plant × drought stress (FC) on the fresh and dry mass of aerial and underground organs was significant. Decreased water availability resulted in a drop in growth parameters (leaf fresh and dry mass and leaf area). In compared to the growth of aerial organs, root biomass increased in response to drought stress. Marigold, Indian blanket, and dahlia plants had the highest root-to-shoot ratio in extreme stress, i.e., FC 25 %. The plant × drought stress interaction significantly influenced flower number, whereas flower diameter was influenced by the main effect of plant and drought stress (not their interaction). The FC 100 % and FC 25 % treatments had the highest and the lowest accumulations of proline and soluble sugars, respectively. Moss-rose, gazania, and marigold ornamental plants had the highest water use efficiency at 75 %, followed by Dahlia at 50 % and moss-rose at 25 %.

Chrysanthemum is one the most important flower crops commercially grown for cut flower, loose flowers, bedding and pot plants. Along with ensuring optimal culture conditions, an appropriate nutrition regime and the application of appropriate management, the most important factors on which the success of a chrysanthemum containerized culture depends are: the choice of suitable varieties for containerized culture, high-quality planting material. In order to diversify the current Chrysanthemum assortment and to promote of the most valuable cultivars for containerized culture, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and flowering performance of ten Chrysanthemum cultivars, in greenhouse conditions. From the data presented, taking into account both flowering phenology and morphological characters, decorative features, the best varieties within the studied Chrysanthemum assortment were Meridian White and Sumbeam Pink Bicolor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of process conditions on the co-processing technology of crude oil and coal was investigated. Crude oil/coal matching performance, swelling degree, crude oil/coal slurry viscosity-temperature characteristics and process parameters were obtained via the laboratory scale and pilot scale studies. The optimum reaction temperature of the co-processing was 445~450 oC, the pressure was 19 MPa, the catalyst addition was 3 wt.%, the reaction time was 2 h, and the ratio of hydrogen to crude oil was 1500 (V/V). Furthermore, the co-processing technology including catalyst and corresponding equipment based on the slurry bed hydrogenation were developed. By using this co-processing technology, the feed ratio of crude oil and coal can be 1:1, the coal conversion rate can be over 99%, the light oil (oil and aromatics) yield was over 70%, and the end products were gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aromatics and LPG. The product quality meets the Euro V standard, whilst aromatics accounted for 48% of the light oil. So it was proved to be feasible to co-refine crude oil and coal at a ratio of 1:1. What's more, the slurry bed hydrogenation plant and its equipment were tested for long-term operation, and it has been proved that this co-processing technology could be deployed as large-scale industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management is a major obstacle in conversion from conventional to organic agriculture system, and objective of this study was to manage weeds in organically grown durum wheat. The treatment combinations of conventional tillage (CT) or deep tillage (DT) with 50% higher plant densities, zero tillage (ZT) with and without residues, straw mulching 6 t ha−1 and bed planting plus 25% higher plant density followed by hand pulling were evaluated for weed control in durum wheat in a two-year study. Tillage has differential effect on weed seed distribution and more than 60% of weed seeds were concentrated in 0–7.5 cm soil layer in CT and ZT, whereas 50.9% of weed seeds were displaced to 15–30 cm soil layer in DT. Bed planting plus 25% higher plant density followed by hand pulling resulted in lowering of weed density and biomass by 61.2% and 58.9%, respectively, at harvest. The maximum growth parameters, yield attributes and wheat grain yield, were obtained under bed planting with 25% higher plant density and one hand pulling. Sowing of durum wheat on raised beds or ZT with residue retention may be used as an effective and economical weed management tool under organic agriculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correct cultivation technique supported by scientific evidence that leads to high-quality standards can promote sustainable floriculture. It is urgent to find alternative solutions to the widely used chemical fertilizers and evaluate the effectiveness of other fertilizers. The liquid organic ones, already in use in organic vegetable farming, could be a good substitute if supplied together with growth-promoting products such as microbial biostimulants. In the hope of replacing the traditional chemicals with a more sustainable organic-based fertilization, the present investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of a microbial biostimulant and various combinations of organic and mineral fertilization on morphological characteristics and physiological parameters of Tagetes patula L. and Ageratum houstonianum Mill. The plants were grown in pots with a substrate inoculated or not with the microbial biostimulant and were fertigated with nutrient solutions at different concentrations of elements from mineral and/or organic sources. Six fertilization formulas were adopted: control (only water without fertilizer), 100% mineral fertilization, 50% mineral fertilization, 100% organic fertilization, 50% organic fertilization, and 50% mineral + 50% organic fertilization. For the organic fertilization, a commercial liquid fertilizer admitted in organic farming with 3-2-5.5 NPK with 3% organic nitrogen was used. Mineral fertilization was formulated to match the organic solution as closely as possible. We observed an improvement in ornamental value (stem diameter and shoot number) with the biostimulant inoculum. Generally, the 50% mineral and 50% organic fertilization did not negatively influence the morphological characteristics. The reduction by 50% in the mineral nutrients and the integration of this reduction with an organic fertilizer was feasible to produce potted plants of these species during spring in the Mediterranean area.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the application effect of different concentrations of QuitoMax® in the growth and development of the garlic cultivar "Criollo Víctor". Prior to manual planting in beds, cloves were soaked for 24 hours in solutions with different concentrations of QuitoMax® (1, 5 and 10 mg L-1) and a control that was soaked in water. At 50 days after planting (dap) a foliar application was made with these same concentrations. A randomized block experimental design with four treatments and three replications was used. The indicators of plant height, number of leaves and chlorophyll content were evaluated at 70; 90 and 110 dap. At 120 dap, the neck and equatorial diameters of the bulb, number of clove "seeds", fresh and dry mass of the bulb, as well as agricultural yield were determined. All the concentrations of QuitoMax® stimulated the different variables that were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare different bed planting systems: narrow beds, wide beds, and flat soil, on the growth and yield of wheat under conservation system. Design/methodology/approach: Treatments were established on a complete block design with three replicates. Also, wheat crop was grown during five seasons. Treatments were as follow: wide beds (100 cm), narrow beds (80 cm) flat soil. Response variables were dry weight of 50 stems, weight of 1000 grains, number of spikes (m2), harvest index and yield. Also, the relationship between relative yield and cold units and degreedays were measured. Results: The flat beds treatment reached the highest stem weight, while the narrow beds had the highest number of spikes m2. Yield was the same between flat beds and narrow beds. No differences were found in the harvest index between the evaluated treatments. When the variables were compared in the years evaluated, the dry weight of 50 stems increased and the harvest index was reduced, negatively affecting yield. A negative association was identified between the reduction of chilling hours and crop yield. Study limitations/implications: The use of wide planting beds reduced the yield of the wheat crop, and its use is not recommended. Findings/conclusions: The performance was the same between the treatment of flat beds and narrow beds. The reduction in yield was mainly associated with the reduction in cold hours that occurred in each year of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present work is to research the dynamic thermal performance of the solar power plant during the phase change material (PCM) capsule heat storage tank discharging process. Therefore, a transient, one-dimensional two-phase model for a packed bed latent heat storage unit and a comprehensive concentrating solar power generation system that combines a CO2 Brayton cycle and organic Rankine cycle were integrated. The influences of the key parameters of the packed bed PCM capsule heat storage tank on the overall power output and thermal efficiency of the system during discharge have been investigated, including the heat transfer fluid (HTF) velocity, the diameter of the PCM capsule, and the height of heat storage tank. The orthogonal analysis method is selected in this article, and the results showed that the maximal transient power output and overall power output of the actual combined cycle mode are decreased about 22% and 25%, respectively, in this research, compared with the idea Carnot cycle mode. That the HTF velocity in the thermal energy storage tank can be used to control the transient power output of the solar thermal power system. Using the small-sized filler capsule is an effective method to increase the thermal performance of the concentrated solar power (CSP) combined cycle system. Moreover, the corresponding discharging time is increased obviously, and the CSP with a high packed bed height can generate a more stable power output value during thermal energy discharging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonium (NH4+) toxicity seriously hampers the yield and quality of salvia plants because most varieties or sub-species are highly sensitive to NH4+. Silicon (Si) is an alternative that is used to minimize these disturbances and maintain better growth under NH4+ toxicity. Nevertheless, the mitigatory effects of Si on NH4+-stressed salvia are unknown. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine how Si assists to alleviate the NH4+ toxicity degree in salvia. To this end, salvia plants were cultivated in a controlled environment supplied with a constant N (nitrogen) level (13 meq·L−1) in the form of three NH4+:NO3− ratios (0:100, 50:50, 100:0), each with (1.0 meq·L−1) or without Si. Physiological disorders and typical NH4+ toxicity symptoms, as well as interrupted photosynthesis, were observed in the 100% NH4+-treated plants. Furthermore, cation uptake inhibition and oxidative damage were also imposed by the 100% NH4+ supply. In contrast, in the presence of Si, the NH4+ toxicity degree was attenuated and plant growth was ensured. Accordingly, the NH4+ toxicity appearance ratio decreased significantly. Furthermore, Si-treated plants showed an ameliorated photosynthetic ability, elevated internal K and Ca levels, and enhanced antioxidative capacity, as reflected by improved major antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as diminished accumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and MDA (malondialdehyde). Our findings enlightened the agronomic importance of additional Si to nutrient solutions, especially pertaining to bedding plants at risk of NH4+ toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the major economic sector in Asian countries and the majority of their population depends on it. In addition to the largest irrigation system in the Indus basin, Pakistan is suffering from water shortages that are affecting the overall crop production of the country. Different resource conservation technologies (RCTs) such as precision land leveling (PLL), raised bed planting (RBP), and different high-efficiency irrigation systems (HEISs) can be opted for better water productivity. In this study, the potential of these RCTs has been explored to enhance production and save irrigation water through their sustainable adoption. Based on studies by different researchers, water savings up to 47% and yield increases up to 35% have been reported under PLL, while water savings up to 50% and about 10–33% yield increases were observed under RBP. Similarly, under different HEISs, water savings up to 80% and yield increases up to 53% have been reported compared with crops sown under conventional farming. Based on the findings of the researchers regarding RCTs, these have been proved as progressive sowing techniques for better productivity under the limited available water scenario. The detailed review in this paper concludes that RCTs resulting in the improvement of gravity irrigation methods, viz., PLL and RBP, have a great potential of adoption and water productivity improvement at the regional scale in developing countries such as Pakistan, while high-cost HEISs can also be promoted at limited scale among progressive farmers for high-value agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this research was to determine how plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can affect the soil and physical characteristics of Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, and carrots. A two-factor randomized block design was used. The first factor examined was the time spent soaking the seeds in PGPR solution and the alternatives tested were 0, 10, 20, or 30 minutes. The second factor was the PGPR concentration used when watering the plants in the beds and the alternatives tested were 0, 1.25, 2.5, or 3.75 cc/L. The study found that using PGPR had an effect on soil organic matter and NPK levels, plant height, and yields that differed slightly from the characteristics obtained through conventional practices. The texture and brightness of the Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, and carrots were affected by PGPR treatment. The average texture of the Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, and carrots from the PGPR application was 23.46, 22.82, and 34.14 kg m/sec2, respectively, with brightness levels of 40.19, 34.06, and 39.10. The Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, and carrots from conventional farming practices had textures of 27.12, 23.03, and 31.13 kg m/sec2, respectively, and brightness levels of 58.11, 34.16, and 43.04. The texture and brightness level of the Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, and carrots produced by PGPR application were nearly identical to those produced by conventional farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the performance of three different statured wheat cultivars viz. Faisalabad-2008 (standard height and low tillering, SHLT), Td-1 (low height and high tillering, LHHT) and Galaxy-2013 (standard height and high tillering, SHHT) was evaluated under five different crop establishment methods including broadcasting, line sowing, no-till sowing, bed planting and ridge sowing. The experiment was conducted at the Post-graduate Agricultural Research Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan for two consecutive growing seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 in randomized complete block design with a split plot arrangement having three replications. The lowest time to 50% emergence (9.34 days), mean emergence time (10.18 days), highest productive tillers (316.9 m−2) and grain yield (4.11 t ha−1) were recorded in bed planted wheat. The grain yield of bed-planted wheat was 5–15% higher than other sowing methods. Among wheat cultivars, the highest net assimilation rate (4.75 g m−2 day−1), grain weight (38.65 g), grain yield (4.1 t ha−1) and mineral uptake (120.7 kg ha−1 nitrogen, 16.31 kg ha−1 phosphorus and 139.2 kg ha−1 potassium) were recorded in the cultivar Galaxy 2013 (SHHT). The interaction of cultivars and sowing indicated the cultivar Galaxy 2013 (SHHT) planted on beds produced the highest grain yield (4.55 t ha−1) and had the highest water productivity (1.99 kg m−3) whereas the lowest grain yield (3.10 t ha−1)from cultivar Td-1 (LHHT) planted on the ridges. The highest net benefits and benefit–cost ratio were noted from all sowing methods with the cultivar Galaxy 2013 (SHHT) except in the ridge sowing where cultivar FSD-2008 (SHLT) remained better for net benefits (418.6 $ ha−1) and benefit–cost ratio (1.50) than other statured wheat cultivars. The findings of this study indicated that optimization of plant stature to different tillage seedbeds may present a new opportunity for increasing their productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity across the globe greatly emphasizing agriculture sector to adapt such practices that have more water use efficiency in the context of seasonal variability and climate change. Hence it is crucial to explore useful techniques in crop production that utilize less water without compromising yield, sacrificing income of the farming community and evidencing sustainability in production systems. Thus, a two years field study (during 2017-18 and 2018-19) was conducted at research area of Agronomic Research Station Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan to compare the existing traditional winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting techniques (broadcast and drill) with the water efficient planting techniques (ridge and bed planting) to evaluate their water use efficiency and their economic feasibility. Results of this study revealed that sowing of wheat on ridges and beds gave higher productive tillers (384 ha-1 and 401 ha-1, respectively), grains per spike (47 and 47, respectively), 1000-grains weight (43 and 44 g, respectively) and ultimately higher grain yield (4492 kg ha-1 and 4761 kg ha-1, respectively) than broadcast and drill planting techniques (conventional techniques). Likewise, it was figured out that minimum water was required in wheat planted at ridge (47266 m3 ha-1) and bed (40772 m3 ha-1) techniques than with broadcast (65347 m3 ha-1) and drill sown (57498 m3 ha-1) wheat. Similarly, higher water use efficiency was recorded in ridge (0.10 kg/m3) and bed (0.13 kg/m3) sown wheat followed by the drill (0.08 kg/m3) and broadcast (0.05 kg/m3) methods. Moreover cost benefit ratio of ridge (1:1.15) and bed (1:1.25) planting techniques was higher than drill (1:0.93) and broadcast (1:0.44) techniques. In conclusion, it is recommended that wheat may be planted on ridges and raised bed to have more yield, high water use efficiency and sound financial return to farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]