• Authors:
    • Vanham, D.
    • Laghari, A. N.
    • Rauch, W.
  • Source: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The Indus basin is one of the regions in the world that is faced with major challenges for its water sector, due to population growth, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, environmental degradation, unregulated utilization of the resources, inefficient water use and poverty, all aggravated by climate change. The Indus Basin is shared by 4 countries - Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China. With a current population of 237 million people which is projected to increase to 319 million in 2025 and 383 million in 2050, already today water resources are abstracted almost entirely (more than 95% for irrigation). Climate change will result in increased water availability in the short term. However in the long term water availability will decrease. Some current aspects in the basin need to be re-evaluated. During the past decades water abstractions - and especially groundwater extractions - have augmented continuously to support a rice-wheat system where rice is grown during the kharif (wet, summer) season (as well as sugar cane, cotton, maize and other crops) and wheat during the rabi (dry, winter) season. However, the sustainability of this system in its current form is questionable. Additional water for domestic and industrial purposes is required for the future and should be made available by a reduction in irrigation requirements. This paper gives a comprehensive listing and description of available options for current and future sustainable water resources management (WRM) within the basin. Sustainable WRM practices include both water supply management and water demand management options. Water supply management options include: (1) reservoir management as the basin is characterised by a strong seasonal behaviour in water availability (monsoon and meltwater) and water demands; (2) water quality conservation and investment in wastewater infrastructure; (3) the use of alternative water resources like the recycling of wastewater and desalination; (4) land use planning and soil conservation as well as flood management, with a focus on the reduction of erosion and resulting sedimentation as well as the restoration of ecosystem services like wetlands and natural floodplains. Water demand management options include: (1) the management of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; as well as (2) the rehabilitation and modernization of existing infrastructure. Other demand management options are: (3) the increase of water productivity for agriculture; (4) crop planning and diversification including the critical assessment of agricultural export, especially (basmati) rice; (5) economic instruments and (6) changing food demand patterns and limiting post-harvest losses.
  • Authors:
    • Ashraf, M. Y.
    • Mehboob-ur-Rahman
    • Sarwar, M. K. S.
    • Zafar, Y.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Water scarcity is an important factor limiting cotton production worldwide particularly in Pakistan. To identify drought tolerant genotypes, it is vital to understand their genetic variation for different biochemical traits under water limited conditions. In the present study, 24 genotypes of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) were evaluated under two irrigation regimes viz., well watered (W-1) and limited water (W-2) conditions. Before physiological maturity, cotton leaves were collected and analyzed for nitrate and nitrite reductase activities, and total free amino acids. At maturity, data regarding yield and yield parameters were recorded. Significant reduction in case of all the activities of nitrate and nitrite reductase, and yield parameters was observed under W-2 condition in all the genotypes; however, total free amino acids were substantially increased under W-2 condition. Correlation between the yield parameters of cotton and biochemical traits was determined. Non-significant correlation between nitrate reductase activity and yield parameters was observed under limited water condition. The genotypes evaluated exhibited decrease in the activities of nitrate and nitrite reductase whereas total free amino acids accumulation was higher under drought conditions that showed comparatively higher yield. This study shows that these biochemical traits were regulated genetically and environmentally in the tested cotton genotypes. It was concluded that these biochemical traits can be used as biochemical markers for screening cotton germplasm for drought tolerance as well as for evolving high yielding drought tolerant varieties of this crop. The findings are useful in bridging plant biochemistry and molecular biology for identifying and selecting genes involved in conferring drought tolerance in cotton.
  • Authors:
    • Rasul, G.
    • Zahid, M.
  • Source: Climatic Change
  • Volume: 113
  • Issue: 3-4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Extreme events have gained considerable scientific attention recently due to their potentially catastrophic impacts. Heat waves are thought to be more pronounced now in most parts of the world, and especially in South Asia, but doubts remain. The aim of this study is to calculate the frequency and intensity of heat waves in South Asia, focusing on Pakistan and identifying the regions within Pakistan that are most vulnerable to heat waves. Analyses have been performed both at provincial and country levels from 1961 to 2009. The provincial level analysis shows positive trends for heat waves of magnitudes a parts per thousand yen40A degrees C and a parts per thousand yen45A degrees C for 5 and 7 consecutive days. Events of magnitude a parts per thousand yen40A degrees C and a parts per thousand yen45A degrees C for 10 consecutive days also increased in frequency in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. These regions are therefore considered to be the regions most vulnerable to heat wave events in Pakistan. The Balochistan region shows a consistently increasing trend throughout the study period, which may lead to more frequent drought in the future. The country level analysis indicates an increase in the frequency of 5 and 7 consecutive days heat waves at all defined temperature thresholds. The 10-days heat waves spells show a slight increase at a parts per thousand yen40A degrees C and no significant change at a parts per thousand yen45A degrees C. The Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir areas reported no events at a parts per thousand yen45A degrees C for 5, 7 and 10 continuous days. It is anticipated that with a long term rise in temperatures around the globe, heat waves will become more frequent and intense in all parts of the world, including Pakistan.
  • Authors:
    • Rafi, A.
    • Asim, M.
    • Akmal, M.
    • Farhatullah
    • Raziuddin
    • Shah, A.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Global climate change is consequence of accumulating greenhouse gases (Carbon) at lower atmosphere which might affects crops growth and yield. Maize is an important summer cereals, grown on considerable area in Pakistan every year. We, therefore, study the delay sowing response with changing climate on maize. Field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design. Sowing was done from June 8 to July 24, 2010 with ten days intervals. Mazie (cv. Azam) was planted in rows at 0.75 m distance in NS orientations. Crop was raised under the uniform recommended cultural practices. Data regarding days to emergence, tasseling and maturity showed a consecutive decrease when sowing was delayed form June 08 onwards. However, the crop life cycle (i.e. vegetative and reproductive durations) initially remained uniform but expanded for late sowing dates (July). Delay sowing showed an increase in the leaf area index with an abrupt decline for the late sown crop. Nonetheless, plant stand at harvest remained static during the growth for all sowing dates. A stable to moderate reduction was noticed in ear length (cm) when sowings was delayed from Jun 08 onwards. Grain rows cob(-1) did not influence by the delay sowing in the season. Moreover, delay sowing did not show any significant (P<0.05) change for the grain number. However, thousand grains weight was initially remained stable but declined (P<0.05) by delay in sowing. Biological yield, dry matter and grains yield (g m(-2)) revealed almost a similar decreasing trend when sowing was delayed. Dry matter to grain yield relationship was linear (r(2) = 0.95) and revealed a mean loss of 1.65 g m(2) when sowing delayed from June 08 to July 24 in the season. Radiation use efficiency (RUE), the growth function, was also declined by the delay in sowing. We inferred that losses in leaf area indices, ear length and grain weights were basis of the grain yield reduction by changing climate of the growing season which brought a significant disturbance in the vegetative and reproductive phases of the crop life cycle that resulted losses (P<0.05) in grain yield by the late sown crop in the season.
  • Authors:
    • Iqbal, K.
    • Khurshid, W.
    • Hassan, I.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural Research
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A study was conducted during the year 2009 to find out the factors responsible for decline in guava ( Psidium guajava) yield. For this purpose three districts Sheikhupura, Kasur and Faisalabad, Pakistan were selected being core area for guava cultivation. To examine impact of various inputs on guava production, the Cobb-Douglas production function model was used. Factors which caused decline in guava yield were found to be physical beating of flowers, excessive intercropping and number of sprays. The physical beating of flowers (-0.317 coefficient value) and intercropping (-0.200) proved as two major depressing factors. Intercropping in both summer and winter seasons went in a long way in depressing yields. Flower shedding by beating with clubs proved to be more significant (-0.317). It was found that productivity decline can be arrested as well as be reversed with adequate number of irrigations, proper use of fertilizers and adopting good management measures.
  • Authors:
    • Khizar, A.
    • Abbasi, M. K.
  • Source: Ecological Engineering
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: February
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Application of organic amendments to soil is an important management strategy for enhancing the restoration of degraded soils and providing better soil conditions to below-ground soil microbial composition and above-ground plant community development. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic amendments (poultry manure - PM; white clover residues - WCR), a mineral N fertilizer (urea N - UN), or mixtures of these fertilizers on microbial activity and nitrogen (N) mineralization through both soil analysis (laboratory incubation) and aboveground maize (Zea mays L) growth (pot experiment). In the incubation experiment, soil was amended with PM, WCR, PM + WCR, UN, UN + PM, UN + WCR, and UN + PM + WCR at the rate equivalent to 200 mg N kg(-1) soil. Pot experiment was conducted in a glasshouse using same amendments to examine the response of maize seedlings to these treatments. Organic amendments and UN applied alone or in mixtures increased soil microbial biomass compared to the control. Among N amendments, the highest evaluation of CO2-C (47.7 mg kg(-1) day(-1)), microbial biomass C (434 mg kg) and microbial biomass N (86 mg kg(-1)) were recorded in the UN + PM + WCR while the lowest values were recorded in UN. It is estimated that 9-18% of the applied N had been assimilated into microbial N pool after 105 days. Mineralization of N was higher in the fertilized soil and ranged between 85 and 192 mg N kg(-1) compared with 46 mg N kg(-1) in the control. The net cumulative N mineralized (NCNM) ranged between 43 and 169 mg kg(-1) while the net cumulative N nitrified (NCNN) ranged between 16 and 69%. Combined application of UN + PM + WCR exhibited the highest NCNM and NCNN. On average, percentage conversion of added N into NO3--N was: 21% from organic sources, 40% from UN and 52% from UN + organic sources. The apparent recovery of added N (ANR) from PM, WCR and PM + WCR was 20, 24 and 45%, respectively, while UN, UN + PM, UN + WCR and UN + PM + WCR exhibited 50, 57, 64, and 73% ANR, respectively. Results obtained from the pot experiment (on maize) were consistent with the total mineral N (TMN) released from different amendments and highly significant correlations existed between TMN and plant dry matter yield (r(2) = 0.92) and TMN and N uptake of plants (r(2) = 0.89). The present study demonstrates the existence of substantial amount of N reserve present in organic substrates, which can be transformed into inorganic N pool and can be taken into account as potential sources in the management of the nutrient poor soils and crop growth. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.
  • Authors:
    • Soomro, B. A.
    • Markhand, G. S.
    • Soomro, M. H.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The drought is one of the biggest abiotic stresses for crop production in arid and semi-arid agriculture. Thus it is a challenge for plant scientists to screen and develop the drought tolerant cotton lines. In this study, 31 cotton genotypes/cultivars were evaluated under two irrigation regimes i.e., seven irrigations (Control) and two irrigations (Stress), using split plot design with four replications. The crop growth, yield and some physiological parameters were studied. There were high inter-varietal differences for all the parameters under control as well as drought stress. Although all the varieties for all parameters were significantly affected by drought but however, CRIS-9, MARVI, CRIS-134, CRIS-126, CRIS-337, CRIS-355 and CRIS-377 maintained highest performance for all the parameters studied under high drought conditions.
  • Authors:
    • Ali, M.
    • Javaid, Q.
    • Ullah, M.
    • Ahmad, F.
    • Abid, M.
    • Ahmed, N.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The inorganic fertilizers produce significant effects on quantity as well as quality on the produce of most of the crop plants: The productivity of cotton crop varies greatly due to addition of macro-and micro-nutrients. Among micro-nutrients, boron fertilizer holds significant importance in not only sustaining but also enhancing the yield of cotton. At the advent of excessive use of high analysis fertilizers, a wide spread deficiency of boron in soils of Pakistan is of common scene. However, research studies are limited on the quantity and the impact of boron fertilizer on production of biological yield and its chemical composition of cotton plant under irrigated conditions. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the influence of boron fertilizer on dry matter production and its interactive effects on other nutrients in plant system. The experiment was conducted on calcareous soils under irrigated conditions for two seasons 2004-2005 at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. The treatments consisted of six levels of boron fertilizer i.e., 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg B ha(-1) and were arranged in randomized complete block design with 4 replication. Cotton crop cv. CIM-473 was planted during the month of May and harvested in November each year. The standard production practices were followed. The results showed that application of boron fertilizer produced significant effect on enhancing biological yield of cotton. Maximum dry matter yield was achieved by addition of 3.0 kg B ha(-1). Crop planted during season 2005 produced higher quantity of biological yield compared to year 2004. The addition of various levels of boron caused substantial increase in the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc and boron nutrients, while lowering down of calcium magnesium and manganese in different parts of the cotton plant. The enhanced assimilation of macro-nutrients resulted in greater production of biological yield and better growth and development of cotton plant.
  • Authors:
    • Latif, M.
    • Azhar, A.
  • Source: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study was conducted during 2001-04 in which four subsurface drainage projects viz; Mardan SCARP Project (MSP), Fourth Drainage Project, Faisalabad (FDP), Chashma Command Area Development Project (CCADP) and Mirpurkhas Tile Drainage Project (MTDP) were assessed for their impact on crop yield in irrigated areas of Pakistan. Quantitative comparison made on the change in pre- and post-project conditions revealed that crop yield significantly improved due to project implementation at all sites. The yield increased from 13 to 94% for most crops. The exception was rice, where it decreased by 23% at MTDP due to shortage of irrigation supplies. Maximum yield increase was observed in CCADP for cotton (80%), sugarcane (94%), wheat (67%); and at MSP for rice (46%). For chilli the maximum increase (147%) was observed at MTDP study site. Low increase in the yield was attributed to the shortage of irrigation supplies during the post-project periods. Limited sub-irrigation resulting from the operation of subsurface drainage systems was also observed to be another factor for low crop yields. Overall quantitative comparison indicated a positive impact of drainage system installation in terms of crop yield improvements.
  • Authors:
    • Zaidi, J. H.
    • Matiullah
    • Husaini, S. N.
    • Arif, M.
  • Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
  • Volume: 290
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Due to the inadequate water sources, usually sewerage water and industrial effluents are being use for irrigation of the agricultural land around the industrial areas in Pakistan wherein crops and vegetables are cultivated. As untreated effluents contain heavy elements, toxic metals and organic pollutants that may find its way through food chain to general public and may cause health hazards. It is, therefore, mandatory to assess the toxic metals in such crops and vegetables. In this regard, samples of corn, millet, cabbage, spinach and potato were collected within the vicinity of industrial areas of the Faisalabad and Gujranwala regions. The food samples were analyzed using neutron activation analysis (NAA) technique. The highest concentration values of Arsenic (1.90.1 g/g) and Cobalt (0.850.01 g/g) were found in cabbage whereas Manganese (91.60.2 g/g), Antimony (0.150.03 g/g) and Selenium (1.10.1 g/g) were observed in spinach and Chromium (9.631.3 g/g) was found in millet crop. The observed concentrations of all the toxic and heavy metals in crops and vegetables are higher than those reported in the literature.