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High temperature stress during reproductive stages of wheat is a leading constraint in achieving food security. The objectives of study were to investigate heat sensitivity of terminal stages of wheat, to optimize foliar selenium dose, to boost nonenzymatic antioxidants and to determine correlation of these nonenzymatic antioxidants with yield and quality attributes of wheat crop. The field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at agronomic research area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. It was laid out in a randomized complete block design under split arrangement, and treatments were replicated thrice. Main plot factor comprised of heat imposition treatments; H0 = Control; H1 = Heat from spike to grain filling; H2 = Heat from flowering to grain filling while in subplots doses of foliar selenium were maintained; Se0 = Control (water spray); Se25 = 25 mg L−1; Se50 = 50 mg L−1; Se75 = 75 mg L−1 and Se100 = 100 mg L−1. Impact of H1 was more damaging compared to H2 and H0 for all response variables. Higher levels of proline, phenolics and leaf selenium were recorded with foliar spray of selenium either at 75 or at 100 mg L−1 under H0, whereas under H1 and H2, significantly higher responses were observed with 100 mg L−1 selenium for these traits. Increases in leaf chlorophyll and grain protein contents were statistically alike with 75 and 100 mg L−1 selenium; while in case of 1000-grain weight, harvest index and grain yield three levels of foliar selenium (50, 75 and 100 mg L−1) performed equally well under all the three heat stress treatments. Moreover, strong positive and significant associations of proline, phenolics, leaf selenium and chlorophyll were measured with yield of wheat. Conclusively, more harmful impacts were recorded under H1 compared to H2 and H0; while 75 mg L−1 Se proved more beneficial under H0 and 100 mg L−1 Se under H1 and H2. Strong associations of biochemical and agronomic traits were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional rice production system of Pakistan is escalating due to the higher level of labor involved, shortage of water and higher cost of production due to the rapidly increasing cost of energy resources. Dry direct seeded aerobic rice (DDSAR) is a valuable option to ease the problem of labor, water, and energy resources. In this study, screening of four rice varieties of conventional transplanted rice was evaluated under DDSAR in terms of yield, milling recoveries, grain and cooking quality. Four rice cultivars, viz; Super Basmati; Basmati 2000; Basmati 515 and PS-2 were sown at the Research Station of the Engro Fertilizers, Sheikhupura, Pakistan during three consecutive summer seasons (2016 to 2018). The sowing was accomplished in well prepared dry fields. Each variety performed well in terms of yield and quality traits in DDSAR but in terms of yield, Basmati-515 outperformed the other varieties and showed consistency in yield for three consecutive years of cultivation. PS-2 also gave yield statistically similar to Basmati-515 but maximum cooked grain length (17.1-17.5 mm) and grain elongation ratio (1.69-1.7) was recorded for PS-2. In contrast to other varieties, the minimum head rice percentage (40.5-43.5%) was recorded in PS-2 cultivar besides having the second-highest total milled rice percentage (50.5-73.4%) after Basmati-515 (81.0-82.8%). DDSAR did not affect the cooking quality of rice except bursting. In crux, the cultivation of low land rice cultivars under DDSAR not only maintained or increased the grain yield but also the grain and cooking quality of rice. [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]

Six advance lines IR1, IR2, IR3, RF1, RF2 and RF3 and four cultivars Pirsabak-08 (PS08), Janbaz (JZ), Zam-04 (ZM04) and Kohat-10 (KT10) were crossed in line × testers fashion in spring 2011 to produce F1 hybrids. The experimental material consisting of 34 genotypes (10 parents and 24 F1 hybrids) were evaluated under irrigated conditions in triplicated randomized complete block design at Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan during 2011-12. Data were recorded on tillers plant-1, spike length, grains spike-1, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield plant-1. Mean of 24 F1 hybrids was greater than mean of 10 parents for all traits studied. Among lines RF3 and testers ZM-04 were good general combiners for most of the yield traits including grain yield plant-1. Cross combination RF3 × PS08 proved as good specific combiner showing positive SCA effects for all traits including grain yield plant-1. Crosses viz. IR1 × JZ, RF2 × ZM04 and RF2 × KT10 proved as good specific combiners for all traits except 1000-grain weight. Another three set of crosses viz. IR2 × JZ, RF1 × KT10 and RF1× JZ proved as good specific combiners for all traits except grains spike-1, biological yield and grain yield plant-1, respectively. All aforementioned crosses expected to yield transgressive segregants with more grain yield compared to their parents as these cross combinations had positive SCA effects for grain yield plant-1. GCA to SCA variances ratio revealed predominantly non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of all traits in wheat. Development of high yielding varieties with improved traits is therefore suggested through selection in late segregating generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during kharif, 2011 to evaluate the impact of different nitrogen and zinc sulphate levels on the phenology, yield and quality of maize. Maize hybrid "Pioneer (SS-2525)" was subjected to four rates of N (0, 200, 250 and 300 kg/ha) and ZnSO4 (0, 9, 18 and 27 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a RCBD with factorial arrangement having net plot size of 3m x 5m. The results showed that nitrogen and zinc sulphate application significantly affected the growth, yield and quality parameters of maize. Maximum days to 50 percent tasseling (53.1) and silking (56.7) were recorded at 300 kg N level. Minimum number of days for 50 percent completion of tasseling (45.5) and silking (49.1) were recorded in application of 27 kg ZnSO4. In case of interaction of N and Zn, minimum days to 50 percent tasseling and silking (44.3 and 48.3) alongwith maximum plant height (242.3 cm), number of grains per cob (539.6), 1000-grain weight (316.0g), grain yield (7.9 t/ha) and protein contents (9.9%) were noted in N3Zn3 level (300 kg N + 27 kg ZnSO4). These results indicated that these traits linearly increased with increasing levels of N and ZnSO4 upto their maximum rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland agriculture is an imperative component of our national economy, presently contributes around Rs. 15 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) annually. About 12% of the total wheat produced in Pakistan is harvested from rainfed areas but low and unevenly distributed rainfall and prolonged dry spells limits wheat production in these areas. To narrow the yield gap between potential and actual wheat yield and to boost up the overall wheat productivity in rainfed areas, serious efforts are needed. Supplemental irrigation is one of the best approaches to unravel the yield potential of crops in rainfed areas and to increase water use efficiency by assuring the water availability during drought conditions. In this review, we have focused the potential of supplemental irrigation, its sources, management and its integration with different farming techniques especially in rainfed areas. The objective of this analysis is to trace the pathways to enhance the crop, water and farm productivity through supplemental irrigation to sustain the food security for a growing population in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]