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Zinc and Boron dearth is an imperative soil constraint in Pakistan. Zinc (Zn) and boron (B) deficiency in soil is primary hindrance to achieve yield potential of maize. An experiment was conducted with the objectives to optimize methods of B and Zn application in maize and ultimately enhance profitability. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement during autumn 2015. Treatments were replicated three times. The treatments were comprised of C = no Zn and B (Control); Zn (S) = soil application of Zn @ of 12 kg ha-1; B (S): soil application of B @ 3 kg ha-1; Zn (F) = foliar application of 1% Zn at 9th leaf stage; B (F) = foliar application of 0.5% B at 9th leaf stage; Zn (S) + B (S) = soil application of Zn @ 12 kg ha-1 + B @ of 3 kg ha-1 and Zn (F) + B (F) = foliar application of 1% Zn + 0.5% B at 9 leaf stage. Foliar application of Zn and B produced more plant height, cob length, girth, stem girth, shelling percentage, number of grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, harvest index, grain and biological yield. Maximum marginal rate of return was obtained with foliar application of both Zn and B and using foliar Zn alone. Integrated B and Zn application produced more marginal rate of returns both in soil and foliar applications. Use of foliar Zn application also depicted promising results while foliar or soil B application without using Zn enhanced cost of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop growth and productivity may differ under different sowing methods and planting densities. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of different sowing methods and planting densities on growth, yield, quality and economic returns of cotton. Sowing methods included pit planting (1 m × 1 m pits), bed planting (75 cm apart beds), ridge planting (75 cm apart ridges) and line sowing with varied inter row spacing (25, 50 and 75 cm). Sowing methods significantly affected growth and yield of cotton. Pit planting imposed maximum increase in plant height (152 cm), number of monopodial branches (4.7) and sympodial branches (22.6) per plant, number of unopened (9.4) and opened bolls (41.1) per plant, and average boll weight (3.0 g) of cotton. However, highest seed cotton yield (2944.5 kg ha-1) was obtained by flat sowing on 25 cm apart rows owing to highest planting density per unit area. Maximum ginning out turn (GOT) (41.6%) was noticed in pit planting of cotton, while, fiber quality was not affected significantly by sowing methods. Economic analysis showed that economic returns and benefit cost ratio (BCR) (1.52) was elevated by flat sowing on 25 cm apart rows. In conclusion, maximum seed cotton yield and economic returns can be acquired by flat sowing with 25 cm apart rows, while, fiber quality is independent of sowing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is perennial plant with indeterminate growth habit. However it has been adopted as annual, so efforts like topping and optimum nitrogen levels to modify its architecture can play a role in improving its success as annual. A field experiment to study the effect of topping under different nitrogen levels on earliness and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during kharif 2013. The crop was sown on ridges on May 24, 2013 using seed rate of 20 kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement having three replications. Treatments included four topping levels: control (no topping), topping at 90 cm, 120 cm and 150 cm height; three nitrogen levels: 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1. Net plot size was 6 m x 3 m. Maximum days to first floral bud initiation (44.68), appearance of first flower (65.64), first boll splition (105.47) and monopodial branches per plant (0.81) were recorded at 250 kg N ha-1. Minimum days for first floral bud initiation (36.66), appearance of first flower (55.97), first boll splition (86.31) and monopodial branches per plant (0.33) were recorded with application of 150 kg N ha-1. While topping did show non-significant effect on these earliness related parameters. Number of sympodial branches was significantly affected by topping only; with maximum values recorded in no topping closely followed by topping at 150 cm height. Values showed that 90 cm tall plants produced maximum seed cotton yield when supplied with 150 kg N ha-1; 120 cm tall plants gave maximum seed cotton with 200 kg N ha-1 while 150 cm tall cotton plants needed 250 kg N ha-1 for highest seed cotton production. In conclusion, cotton growth can be manipulated successfully for better performance by topping provided N dose is monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive farming has been adopted to produce large amounts of food grains and cash crops but environment is being deteriorated at alarming rate also. Increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, chemical growth regulators, machinery and poor management practices are accelerating environmental pollution, soil degradation, global warming, climatic change and food deterioration. Conservation agriculture offers a sustainable solution for all these problems most often. This review focuses the use of fertilizers in conservation agriculture and their impact on weed management. Weeds are major constraint in the productivity of agro-ecosystems. Fertilizer use can influence weed emergence, weed persistence, weed dormancy, weed dynamics, weed growth and weed dispersion attributes. The rate, timing, type and method of fertilizer application affect biological trends of weeds. In conservation tillage systems, the interaction between fertilizers and weeds is very complex, and there are reports of positive as well as negative correlations with weed establishment. Altered physical and chemical properties of reduced-tillage soils result in different weed growth and weed-crop competition periods and thus have indirect impacts on weed control strategies and management options in conservation crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop nutrient requirements vary in sole/mono and multiple cropping systems indicating the need for optimization of fertilization programs. This 2-years study was performed to investigate the influence of different strategies related to NPK fertilization timing viz. T1 (control, no NPK application), T2 (all PK at sowing, ½ N at tillering and ½ at booting), T3 (½ PK at sowing, ½ NPK at tillering and ½ N at booting), T4 (all PK at sowing, ½ N at sowing and ½ at tillering), T5 (all PK at tillering, ½ N at tillering and ½ at booting), T6 (all PK at tillering and N at booting) and T7 (all NPK at sowing) on growth, yield, agronomic nutrient use efficiency of nitrogen (NUEA) and economic benefits of relay-intercropped wheat in cotton. Fertilization timing significantly affected growth, yield and NUEA of wheat. Application of T4 (all PK at sowing, ½ N at sowing and ½ at tillering) caused maximum improvement in plant height, fertile tillers, grains per spike, biological yield, grain yield and NUEA. Economic analysis also manifested that the greatest net returns and benefit cost ratio (BCR) were obtained by same NPK application timing (i.e. T4). In conclusion, fertilization timing substantially affected the yield, NUEA and economic benefits of relay intercropped wheat in cotton; and application of ½ N and all PK at sowing and ½ N at tillering was most appropriate option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Boron (B) affects plant growth and development by influencing vital processes like cell division, cell wall formation, water relations, meristematic tissue growth, carbohydrate metabolism, and pollen tube growth which suggests plausible effects on all these activities due to its deficiency. Therefore, a field trial was set up to assess the efficacy of different levels (control, 0.01 M and 0.05 M) of foliar applied B at booting, anthesis, and grain filling growth stages of wheat crop respectively. Results revealed that B application at the rate of 0.05 M solution substantially increased plant height, productive tillers, 1000 grain-weight and final grain yield. It was observed that 0.05 M B applications at delayed growth stages after booting is less effective in improvement of yield attributes of wheat crop as compared to booting stage. Economic analysis revealed that 0.05 M B application gave highest net income and benefit-cost ratio. Thus foliar application of 0.05 M B application (foliar) at booting stage can improve wheat productivity possibly by optimizing post-vegetative plant metabolic activities during grain filling, in contrast to late application rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: Net plot size was maintained 7.0 m × 3.6 m. Different tillage practices, i.e., deep tillage, conventional tillage, Different tillage practices on yield of autumn planted maize (Zea mays L.). Of; deep tillage, conventional tillage, minimum tillage, Maize, Tillage, Grain yield, Value cost ratio, Sowing methods.