• Authors:
    • Ahmad, R.
    • Zahir, Z. A.
    • Khalid, M
    • Aon, M
  • Source: Article
  • Volume: 52
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: In calcareous soils, the effects of biochar characteristics on maize growth are least understood. In a laboratory study, citrus peel biochar (CPB) and green waste biochar (GWB) were produced by slow pyrolysis at 300°C with 20 min residence time. Electrical conductivity, pH, ash, and nutrients i.e. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn and Mn content in GWB were greater than CPB. Citrus peel biochar had wider C:N, C:P and C:S ratios than GWB. Efficacy of these biochars was tested for maize growth and nutrient uptake, and chemical properties of calcareous soil. Maize hybrid (Syngenta-6621) was grown in a greenhouse pot trial by using calcareous soil amended either with CPB or GWB at application rates of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% (w/w) along with NPK fertilizers. Our results revealed that increasing rates of CPB, effectively improved maize plant height; fresh and dry weight; chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate; and N, P and K uptake. At varying GWB application rates, maize fresh and dry weight; and N and P uptake was improved. Regarding plant growth and nutrient uptake, the overall response of CPB was better than GWB. At 2.0% application rate, CPB resulted better fresh weight (19%), dry weight (24%), plant height (20%), N uptake (42%), P uptake (36%) and K uptake (30%), than from the treatment having same rate of GWB. Due to biochar addition, the highest percentage of N and P recovery (5.3 and 6.6%, respectively) was obtained at 2.0% CPB application rate, while the highest K recovery (9.8%) was obtained at CPB application rate of 0.5%. At 2.0% application rate, CPB decreased soil pH up to 7.96 and increased soil organic carbon up to 1.25%, and GWB increased soil electrical conductivity up to 1.45 dS m -1. Conclusively, CPB produced at 300°C pyrolysis temperature with 20 min residence time, could be effectively used at the rate of 2.0%, for improving maize growth and nutrient uptake, and chemical characteristics of calcareous soil.
  • Authors:
    • Khan, N.
    • Samad, G.
    • Janjua, P.
  • Source: Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences
  • Volume: 68
  • Year: 2014
  • Summary: Climate change and its impact on agricultural production is being debated in economic literature in context of different regions. The geographical location of Pakistan is assumed to be vulnerable to climate change. Concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide through human activities has altered the composition of climate. These gases have increased temperature on earth by trapping sun light. This higher temperature in tropical regions may negatively affect the growth process and productivity of wheat. This study aims to look at the impact of climate change on wheat production in Pakistan. The study uses Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to evaluate the impact of global climate change on the production of wheat in Pakistan. The study considers annual data from 1960 to 2009. On the basis of this historical data the study tries to capture the impact of climate change on wheat production up to now. The results of estimation reveal that global climate change doesn't influence the wheat production in Pakistan. However, on the basis of the results some appropriate adaptative measures are proposed to confront any adverse shock to wheat production in Pakistan. (C) 2013 Royal Netherlands Society for Agricultural Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,
  • Authors:
    • Zahoor
    • Naz, R. M. M.
    • Khan, F. A.
    • Shah, Z.
    • Khan, A.
    • Ullah, B.
    • Hira, K.
    • Waqar, A.
  • Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2014
  • Summary: Crop productivity mostly depends heavy nitrogen (N) fertilization. Nutrient use inefficiencies can cause environmental pollution through the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and of soluble and particulate forms of N, P and carbon (C) in leachate and leaching into watercourses. Improving nutrient use efficiencies in agriculture calls for the development of sustainable nutrient management strategies, more efficient use of mineral fertilisers, increased recovery and recycling of waste nutrients, and, better exploitation of the substantial inorganic and organic reserves of nutrients in the soil. More energy is required to produce N fertilizer creates both higher environmental pollution and its production cost. Therefore, Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is more essential for agriculture development and environmental protection. NUE is a very complex process including assimilation, nitrification, translocation, nitrogen uptake and remobilization due to several environmental, genetic and management factors. Therefore, optimum nitrogen application to soil can improve the current status of soil, which increased the plant metabolism and its production. In future for breeding it is very important to increase grain yield and nitrogen utilization through modified cultivar.
  • Authors:
    • Marschner, P.
    • Khan, K. S.
    • Malik, M. A.
    • Fayyaz-ul, H.
  • Source: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: A 72-day greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with a sandy loam or a silt loam soil to examine the effects of farmyard manure (FYM), poultry litter (PL) and biogenic waste compost (BWC) at 10 g dw kg(-1) soil on microbial biomass and activity and growth and nutrient uptake by wheat. Soil samples were collected at days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 72 after planting. Growth and nutrient uptake by wheat were determined on day 72. All three amendments increased microbial biomass C, N and P, dehydrogenase activity, plant growth and nutrient uptake with a greater effect by FYM and PL than by BWC. All amendments increased microbial biomass C, N and P and enzyme activity particularly on day 0. These microbial parameters decreased after day 0 indicating microbial biomass turnover. All amendments increased plant growth and nutrient uptake. It is concluded that organicamendments can stimulate microbial growth and nutrient uptake as well as plant growth and nutrient uptake. Microbes can increase plant nutrient availability by nutrient mobilisation but also because nutrients taken up by the microbial biomass initially could become available to plants when the microbial biomass turns over as the easily available C is depleted.
  • Authors:
    • Ashraf, M.
    • Shahbaz, M.
    • Perveen, S.
  • Source: Photosynthetica
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the effect of foliar application of triacontanol (TRIA) on two cultivars (cv. S-24 and MH-97) of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) at different growth stages. Plants were grown in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution under salt stress (150 mM NaCl) or control (0 mM NaCl) conditions. Three TRIA concentrations (0, 10, and 20 M) were sprayed over leaves at three different growth stages, i.e. vegetative (V), boot (B), and vegetative + boot (VB) stages (two sprays on same plants, i.e., the first at 30-d-old plants and the second 78-d-old plants). Salt stress decreased significantly growth, net photosynthetic rate ( PN), transpiration rate ( E), chlorophyll contents (Chl a and b), and electron transport rate (ETR), while membrane permeability increased in both wheat cultivars. Stomatal conductance ( gs ) decreased only in salt-sensitive cv. MH-97 under saline conditions. Foliar application of TRIA at different growth stages enhanced significantly the growth, PN, gs , Chl a and b contents, and ETR, while membrane permeability was reduced in both cultivars under salt stress. Of various growth stages, foliar-applied TRIA was comparatively more effective when it was applied at V and VB stages. Overall, 10 M TRIA concentration was the most efficient in reducing negative effects of salinity stress in both wheat cultivars. The cv. S-24 showed the better growth and ETR, while cv. MH-97 exhibited higher nonphotochemical quenching.
  • Authors:
    • Mahmood, K.
    • Awan, A. R.
    • Singh, R. K.
    • Stille, L.
    • Akanda, R.
    • Smeets, E. M. W.
    • Wicke, B.
    • Faaij, A. P. C.
  • Source: Journal of Environmental Management
  • Volume: 127
  • Issue: September
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: This study explores the greenhouse gas balance and the economic performance (i.e. net present value (NPV) and production costs) of agroforestry and forestry systems on salt-affected soils (biosaline (agro) forestry) based on three case studies in South Asia. The economic impact of trading carbon credits generated by biosaline (agro)forestry is also assessed as a potential additional source of income. The greenhouse gas balance shows carbon sequestration over the plantation lifetime of 24 Mg CO2-eq. ha(-1) in a rice-Eucalyptus camaldulensis agroforestry system on moderately saline soils in coastal Bangladesh (case study 1), 6 Mg CO2-eq. ha(-1) in the rice-wheat- Eucalyptus tereticornis agroforestry system on sodic/saline-sodic soils in Haryana state, India (case study 2), and 96 Mg CO2-eq. ha(-1) in the compact tree (Acacia nilotica) plantation on saline-sodic soils in Punjab province of Pakistan. The NPV at a discount rate of 10% is 1.1 k(sic) ha(-1) for case study 1, 4.8 k(sic) ha(-1) for case study 2, and 2.8 k(sic) ha(-1) for case study 3. Carbon sequestration translates into economic values that increase the NPV by 1-12% in case study 1, 0.1 -1% in case study 2, and 2-24% in case study 3 depending on the carbon credit price (1-15 (sic) Mg-1 CO2-eq.). The analysis of the three cases indicates that the economic performance strongly depends on the type and severity of salt-affectedness (which affect the type and setup of the agroforestry system, the tree species and the biomass yield), markets for wood products, possibility of trading carbon credits, and discount rate. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Hussain, A.
    • Chattha, T.
    • Ahmad, Sh.
    • Tariq, N.
    • Ali, H.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field study was conducted during 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan, on silt loam soils to evaluate the effect of irrigation at different growth stages and phosphorus application methods on agronomic traits of wheat. The field experiments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The irrigation treatments, i.e. control - no irrigation (I-1), two irrigations at crown root and booting stage (I-2), three irrigations at crown root, booting and grain development (I-3), four irrigations at crown root, booting, anthesis and grain development (I-4) and live irrigations at crown root, booting, caring, anthesis and grain development (I-5) were kept in main plots. The subplots were allocated to three phosphorus application methods viz. side dressed, 3 inches aside seed (I-1), broadcasting at the time of seedbed preparation (P-2), and top dressing alter first irrigation (P-3). Data on yield components such as tiller number m(-2), spikelet number spike(-1), number of grains spike(-1) and 1000-grain weight as well as grain and total dry matter (TDM) yields were collected. Full irrigation (I-4, I-5) treatments significantly affected yield and yield components. A reduction in all studied characters of wheat crop was subjected to water stress at low or greater degree (e.g. I-1, I-2, and I-3). Phosphorus application as side dressed (P-1), 3 inches aside seed, was more beneficial for increasing yield and yield components of wheat compared to other methods of P application.
  • Authors:
    • Abid, H.
    • Shakeel, A.
    • Nadeem, T.
    • Chattha,T. H.
    • Hakoomat, A.
  • Source: Food, Agriculture and Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field study was conducted during 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan, on silt loam soils to evaluate the effect of irrigation at different growth stages and phosphorus application methods on agronomic traits of wheat. The field experiments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The irrigation treatments, i.e. control - no irrigation (I 1), two irrigations at crown root and booting stage (I 2), three irrigations at crown root, booting and grain development (I 3), four irrigations at crown root, booting, anthesis and grain development (I 4) and five irrigations at crown root, booting, earing, anthesis and grain development (I 5) were kept in main plots. The subplots were allocated to three phosphorus application methods viz. side dressed, 3 inches aside seed (I 1), broadcasting at the time of seedbed preparation (P 2), and top dressing after first irrigation (P 3). Data on yield components such as tiller number m -2, spikelet number spike -1, number of grains spike -1and 1000-grain weight as well as grain and total dry matter (TDM) yields were collected. Full irrigation (I 4, I 5) treatments significantly affected yield and yield components. A reduction in all studied characters of wheat crop was subjected to water stress at low or greater degree (e.g. I 1, I 2, and I 3). Phosphorus application as side dressed (P 1), 3 inches aside seed, was more beneficial for increasing yield and yield components of wheat compared to other methods of P application.
  • Authors:
    • Yasir, I.
    • Ghazanfar, M. U.
    • Zafar, I.
    • Khan, M. A.
    • Hamid, M. I.
    • Naeem, A.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Bacterial blight (BL), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye, is a common disease affecting the growth, development and yield of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Pakistan. Field trial was conducted for a season to determine the influence of environmental conditions representing heavy and low rainfall periods, wind speed and direction on disease incidence by growing 101 commercial varieties. However, out of 101 varieties, a total of 68 varieties were moderately susceptible response while 8 were susceptible to bacterial blight disease. A total of 25 varieties were moderately resistant to bacterial blight disease. No variety was resistant to bacterial blight disease. Except radiation and wind speed, overall correlation of maximum and minimum air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and pan evaporation with bacterial blight disease severity was statistically significant. The poor correlation of wind speed with disease severity may also be due to frequency and amount of air currents received in a certain adjoining areas of Faisalabad district of Pakistan and its indirect role to create humid conditions. Similarly relative humidity is different at different levels of crop canopy and largely depends upon the amount of moisture resulted due to rain showers and irrigation.
  • Authors:
    • Rehmat, U.
    • Mian, S. M.
    • Imran, A.
  • Source: Journal of American Science
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Poor use efficiency of phosphorus is one of the major causes to lower the yield of wheat crop. Time and method of P 2O 5 application influence the degree of responsiveness. Therefore, an investigation was carried out under field conditions to compare three times (pre-plant, at 1st irrigation and at 2nd irrigation) and two methods (broad cast and placement) of P 2O 5 applications for wheat grown in three cropping zones (central, cotton and thal zone) of Punjab province of Pakistan. The division of zones is based on agro-climatic conditions and cropping pattern followed by the farmers. The hypothesis was made to suggest best time and method of P 2O 5 application in order to enhance its use efficiency. The experiments were chalked out by applying recommended dose of N, P 2O 5 and K 2O @160, 114 and 62 Kg ha -1in all treatments except control throughout study. The sources of N, P 2O 5 & K 2O were Urea, Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Sulphtate of Potash (SOP). Three, nine and one field trials were conducted during 2008-09 at framer's fields in central, cotton and thal cropping zones of the Punjab province, respectively. It was found that time and method of P 2O 5 application significantly ( P