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The beneficial effects of Vermicompost (VC) as an organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of plants are well studied. However, studies related to its utilization and effect in combination with reduced chemical fertilizers on plant growth are still limited. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of VC (0 and 2.5 tons/ha) and NPK (60:80:60 kg/ha or RDF, 75% RDF, 50% RDF, 25% RDF) fertilizers on the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish. In a Randomly Complete Block Design (RCBD), the soil for each plot was amended with different VC concentrations before sowing the seeds. The data collected was subjected to ANOVA at 5% level of significance. VC substitution (T1) in soil was helpful in enhancing the overall growth of all three vegetables as compared to control (T0). NPK alone (T2) was more helpful and further enhanced the vegetative growth as well as the yield of the studied vegetable plants. T3 as a combined VC and NPK treatment caused more enhancement in the growth of vegetable plants. With the increased VC and reduced NPK in T4, all three vegetable plants behaved significantly and depicted maximum yield as compared to T0. Whereas, T5 and T6 showed a gradual decline in the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish as compared to T4. The results of this experiment suggest that 1.5 tonns of VC per hectare of land is best suitable for vegetable production in clay loam soils of district Chakwal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment to evaluate the genetic variability and yield potential in cotton cultivars was conducted at the Cotton Research Station, D.I. Khan, Pakistan, during 2013. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block design replicated four times. The genetic material comprised nine cotton cultivars viz., Gomal-93, SLH-373, BH-186, BH-172, CIM-573, CRIS-342, CIM-591, CIM-608 and DNH-105. Results depicted the significant (P≤ 0.01) differences for the investigated parameters. The genotype DNH-105 was the highest yielding genotype with seed yield of 2610.75 kg ha-1, 42.3 bolls plant-1, 3.57 g boll weight and 144.5 cm height in comparison to other eight genotypes. The cultivar Gomal-93 and SLH-373 also showed comparable yield and contributing parameters. The genetic variances of the studied parameters were higher in comparison to variances of environment and highly heritable in broad sense. These instant results suggest that these breeding materials have the room for further improvement and can be successfully utilized in future breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to assess the cost and gross margin of wheat in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pakistan, in the wheat crop season during May-June, 2012. A survey method was employed and 11 villages were selected at random which are the major wheat producing villages in the said district. A total of 50 respondents were probed by personal interview method from the sampled villages. Cost and return (gross return) data from the respondents were analyzed. Farm budgeting technique for estimating cost, gross return and profitability was applied. The analysis of data revealed that the average cost per acre was Rs. 24716.32. Similarly average production of wheat (output) was estimated to be 1618.40 kg acre-1. Thus the gross return was Rs. 45315.39 acre-1, whereas the net return (profit) from wheat production was Rs. 20599.07 acre-1. It is thus concluded that profit is under the direct positive influence of price and output of wheat grain whereas cost had negatively affected the wheat profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has been designed to investigate the role of agricultural extension services in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) improvement. Agriculture extension is appreciating the problems of farmers and suggesting a suitable solution for these problems. Due to the utmost importance of agricultural extension services, its role was investigated in the major date producing areas (Dakki, Mian Wada, Mathra Abad, Jhok Ghamywali, Habib Abad, Bilot Sharif, Himat, Jhok Moazam, Matwala Shah, Chura and Jhok Malkanri) of the district Dera Ismail Khan by personal interview method from a sample of 51 respondents selected from these villages. Agriculture was the major profession of the farmers (80.3%). It was found that 62.7% of the respondents were never visited by the extension workers while 60.7% of the respondents never attended any meeting with field staff or Agriculture Officers. A single field day was organized by extension workers almost two years ago in the studied area attended by only 41% of the respondents. About 72% of the selected respondents were aware about modern technologies but only 43% of them were educated by extension workers. It was concluded that most of the respondents (70%) were never satisfied with proper working of extension workers. It is, therefore recommended that better extension services, trainings and guidance are the need of the farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]