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Impact of tillage practices and sowing methods on weed biomass and growth of mungbean under irrigated condition was studied at the research farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during 2010 and 2011. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split plot arrangement and replicated four times. Tillage practices, were tine cultivator use twice (TC-2), and the following treatments chisel plow(CR), mouldboard plow (MR), disc plow (DR) and tine cultivator(TCR) were followed by rotavator, while sowing methods were seed drill (SD), combined drill (CD) and broadcasting (BC). Tillage practices were assigned to main plots and sowing methods to sub plots. Statistical analysis of the two years mean data revealed that tillage practices had a significant effect on weed biomass and plant height, while number of branches and biological yield of mungbean were not significantly affected. Sowing methods showed significant affect on weed biomass, plant height, number of branches plant-1and biological yield of mungbean. Lower dry weed biomass (128 g m-2) was recorded in plots plowed with MR tillage practices. Higher plant height (77.8 cm) and biological yield (4470kg ha-1) were recorded in plots plowed with CR and MR tillage practices respectively, while highest dry weed biomass (311 g m-2), lowest plant height (75.1 cm) and biological yield (4145 kg ha-1) were recorded in plots plowed with TC-2 tillage practices. Similarly lower weed biomass (177g m-2), higher plant height (77.8 cm) and biological yield (4537kg ha-2) were observed in plots of seed drill sowing methods. Therefore, for minimizing weeds and maximizing growth of mungbean MR tillage practices or other tillage implements followed by rotavator along with drill sowing methods should be adopted under irrigated condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of tillage and integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on N uptake and crop yield of wheat were studied in a field experiments at Agricultural Research Station, Serai Naurang, Bannu, Pakistan during 2010-11. Effects of two tillage methods (in main plots) and four fertilizer treatments (as sub-plots) were evaluated in RCBD split plot configuration. Tillage treatments consist of conventional till (CT) and deep till (DT). The various combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer were 60-45 kg ha-1 NP (T1), 120-90-60 kg ha- 1 NPK (T2), 50 % N + PK + 10 t ha-1 FYM (T3), and 25 % N + PK + 20 t ha-1 FYM (T4). The results showed that tillage treatments had significant effect on wheat yield. Considering average yield over all fertilizer treatments, the mean wheat yield (biological, straw and grain) were 11.88, 8.28 and 3.60 t ha-1 respectively for DT as compared to 10.99, 7.66 and 3.33 t ha-1 for CT. Deep tillage significantly increased the wheat yield. Considering the fertilizer treatments, the maximum yield of 13.58, 9.51 and 4.07 t ha-1 for biological, straw and grain yield respectively of wheat were obtained from treatment receiving 50 % N + PK + 10 t ha-1 FYM (T3). The treatment (T4), receiving 25 % N + PK + 20 t ha-1 FYM produced significantly lower yields. Similarly tillage and fertilizer treatments had a positive effect on N uptake of wheat crop. The soil of DT treatment had consistently the highest N uptake in grain (84.18 kg ha-1) and straw (27.38 kg ha-1) compared to the 68.75 and 25.19 kg ha-1 in grain and straw respectively under CT. The fertilizer treatment (T3) recorded significantly high N uptake in grain (96.73 kg ha-1) and straw (34.05 kg ha-1) as compared to other fertilizer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field study was conducted at Cereal Crops Research Institute Pirsabak Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during 2009-2011 in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having four replications. Three tillage systems (TS) [minimum, conventional and deep] were laid out in main plots, whereas the subplots were six maize stubble management (SM) practices such as removal, burning and incorporation with and without nitrogen (N; 120 kg ha-1) application. The objective of the study was to examine the treatment effects on phenology, establishment and yield of succeeding wheat crop. Result showed that wheat phenology except days to emergence was not affected by different TS however; early emergence (10 days) was observed in minimum tillage rather than conventional and deep tillage system. Nitrogen fertilization (120 kg N ha-1) enhanced days to phenological observations, while no significant variation in days to emergence and physiological maturity were recorded among SM practices, however; stubble incorporation delayed the booting and anthesis stage compared to burning and removing. Minimum tillage improved emergence, tillers and grain yield (3134 kg ha-1) compared to deep tillage systems. Nitrogen fertilization at the rate of 120 kg ha-1 and maize stubble incorporation prior to wheat sowing also improved emergence, tillers, plant height and grain yield compared to control and stubble removal or burning. It is concluded from current study that maize stubble incorporation with recommended dose of fertilizer N (120 kg ha-1) prior to wheat sowing delayed phenology, and improved wheat establishment and yield under minimum tillage in a continuous cereal based cropping system instead of stubble burning and removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]