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Insufficient mobilization of pre-anthesis photosynthates from vegetative sources to reproductive sinks during achene growth and development plays a key role in reduced productivity of sunflower. Among different essential plant nutrients, a micronutrient boron (B) is known to have a prominent role in the mobilization of pre-anthesis reserves. A field experiment was carried out to investigate the role of soil applied boron in the mobilization and partitioning of pre-anthesis photoassimilates in early and late sown sunflower hybrid. Treatments were comprised of sowing dates (S) randomized in main plots and different rates of boron (B) randomized in sub plots. Treatments were S1= Normal sowing (Mid-February); S2= Late sowing (1st week of March) and B1= Control; B2= Water spray; B3= 1.5 kg B ha-1 at button stage; B4= 2 kg B ha-1 at button stage; B5= 2.5 kg B ha-1 at button stage; B6= 1.5 kg B ha-1 at ray floret stage; B7= 2 kg B ha-1 at ray floret stage; B8= 2.5 kg B ha-1at ray floret stage. Soil applied boron significantly improved the dry matter accumulation (fresh and dry weight of leaf, stem, head and whole plant) and mobilization of photosynthates, capitulum diameter, number of achenes per head, 1000-achene weight, achene and biological yield. Moreover, achene oil and protein contents also increased by the soil application of boron. Normal sowing date was more effective for mobilization of reserves. However, application of B (2-2.5 kg ha-1) mitigated the adverse effects of late sowing to a considerable extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A little is known about the brassica species response to different phosphorus (P) amendments and its effects on accumulation of P, proteins, oil and fatty acids in canola (Brassica napus L.) seeds. The two years field study was conducted to evaluate the yield and quality of canola hybrids (Hyola-401 and Hyola-43) in response to different P management strategies. The two canola hybrids were tested under different P application rates (@ 30 kg ha-1 or 60 kg ha-1) applied through broadcasting and side-drilling, alone and in combination with farmyard manure (FYM). Phosphorus applications have significant positive linear (p>0.05%) effects on yield and yield components in the both canola hybrids. The maximum seed yield (2749±6.96 kg ha-1; 2698±7.67 kg ha-1), oil contents (43.73±0.18%; 42.20±0.20%), protein contents (26.23±0.12%; 26.37±0.12%) and P accumulated in grains (0.52±0.01%; 0.45±0.02%) were recorded in Hyola-43 when fertilized @ 60 kg P ha-1 through side drilling along with FYM during 2004-05 and 2005-06, respectively. Hyola-43 appeared a good crop yielding canola hybrid as compared to Hyola-401. The high oleic and low linolenic acid provide good quality oil during frying process. Two folds increase was observed P accumulation in grain and this increase in endogenous grain P may have significant effects on next crop growth on soils having low inherent P. The study result suggests incorporating of FYM along with P fertilizer to overcome the issues of world inorganic P reserves utilization and for the sustainable higher quality canola production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress is a major constraint in crop production particularly in arid and semiarid regions of the world including Pakistan. Screening of maize germplasm at early stage is an effective tool for successful crop production in these areas. A pot experiment was conducted to screen seven maize hybrids namely 32F10, 32B33, 33H35, 3335, 34N43, 6142, 6525 at 80, 60 and 40% water holding capacities. A completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications was used. Results revealed that hybrid 34N43 recorded maximum emergence index, emergence energy, uniformity of emergence, final emergence percentage, shoot length, plant biomass and leaf area and maintained maximum water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential and relative water contents whereas mean emergence time and time taken for 50% emergence was minimum for this hybrid under all three water holding capacities. While the performance of hybrid 32F10 was poor with respect to emergence, early growth and water relations under well watered conditions generally and under water stress particularly. Hybrid 32F10 proved to be the most sensitive to drought among the tested germplasm. Hence, it may be concluded that maize hybrid 34N43 would perform better under conditions of poor water supply as in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron availability in alkaline and calcareous soils is limited because of high pH and calcium carbonate contents. Various sources may have different solubilities within soil and may result in varying degrees of Fe availability. An incubation study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness of different sources of Fe to maintain water soluble Fe in different soils over passage of time. For this purpose, three different soils were incubated with various organic (Fe-EDDHA, Fe-DTPA, FYM) and inorganic (ferrous sulphate, vivianite) Fe sources for the period of four weeks. All amendments were adjusted to maintain 20 mg kg-1 of soil Fe except FYM. Iron sources showed significantly different behavior in maintaining soil Fe in different soils. The chelates of Fe proved very effective in maintaining soil solution Fe throughout the incubation period. Fe-EDDHA maintained 12 mg kg-1 with 56% recovery of total Fe added Followed by Fe-DTPA (with 30% recovery). Recovery of ferrous suphate was negligible on the first day of incubation. Vivianite which was prepared by mixing DAP fertilizer with FeSO4.7H2O also rapidly converted in to insoluble fractions on first contact to soils but maintained slightly more amount of soluble Fe as compared ferrous sulphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of poultry manure in agricultural fields is potentially beneficial to agro-ecosystems, but challenging due to its excessive moisture, bad odor, transportation, inconsistent nutrient contents and phytotoxic substances, which may adversely affect the health of those who handle it. Composting as an agricultural best management practices (BMPs), could overcome the above issues. Field experiments were carried out in 2010 and 2011 under semi-aired conditions of Pakistan at the Agronomic Research Area of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad to study the effects of different rates of composted poultry manure (CPM) and levels of irrigation on maize yield and quality supported with an economic analysis. One drought tolerant and one sensitive maize hybrid (H1 = Monsanto-919 and H2 = FH-810, respectively) were sown with three rate of CPM levels (L1 = control with recommended NPK, L2 = 8, L3 = 10 and L4 = 12 t ha-1 CPM) under three irrigation levels (I1 = 300, I2 = 450 and I3 = 600 mm). Statistical analysis revealed that H 1 showed maximum grain yield during both years (7.70 and 7.98 t ha-1 respectively) at I3 with the application of recommended NPK. While the grain yield of H1 during both years was greater at CPM than H2 with the application of recommended NPK under I2. In 2011 optimum biological yield equivalent to 18.20 t ha-1 was recorded in treatment I3H1L1. Grain oil and protein contents were statistically at par in both maize hybrids fertilized with L1 and L4 under I1 condition. The nitrogen uptake was similar in both hybrids under controlled condition. Moreover, water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly enhanced with the application of CPM. The highest net benefit ($1788 ha-1) was achieved by recommended NPK treatment; contrarily, the highest marginal rate of return (35%) was obtained by application of 600 mm ha-1 depth of irrigation water and 12 t CPM ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry manure (PM) is enriched with uric acid and undigested protein however; the nutrient availability varies in fresh and composted PM. An incubation study was conducted during 2009 in green house at Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to examine the changes in availability of nitrogen (N) to maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids with composted and non-composted PM under various irrigation regimes. The experiment was conducted following completely randomized design with factorial arrangement and each treatment was repeated five times. Pre-tested drought tolerant (Monsanto 919) and sensitive (FH-810) maize hybrids were planted at 100% and 75% of field capacity levels (FC). Performance of the maize hybrid (Monsanto 919) under composted PM was better for N content, which resulted in maximum number of leaves per plant (17.40), plant height (147.60 cm), leaf area index (4.99) and transpiration rate (8.50 m mol m-2 s-1). In maize hybrid (FH-810), maximum photosynthesis rate (21.82 μ mol m-2 s-1) was noted under composted PM at 100% FC, while the performance of this hybrid was poor in all other recorded observations at 75% FC. The nitrogen availability was more from composted PM under both conditions (normal & drought). This enhanced the morphological and physiological processes in maize crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit is a major problem in semi arid regions of Pakistan. It affects plant growth, yield and eventually leads to a considerable crop failure. Although maize (Zea mays L.) is susceptible to water deficit there is a marked genotypic variation in rooting density, morphological and physiological characteristics in maize. A green house experiment was conducted to study the response of spring maize plant growth to soil moisture content under controlled conditions. The seeds of eight maize hybrids (FH 421, FH 810, Pioneer 32-F-10, Pioneer 32-W-86, Monsanto 919, Monsanto 6525, NK 8441 & SS 5050) were sown in pots having the capacity of eight kg soil. A factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was used. The two field capacities (75% & 100%) were maintained after the reduction of 30% soil moisture. Monsanto 919 performed better in both levels with maximum plant height, leaf area per plant, water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential and minimum relative saturation deficit, while maize hybrid FH 810 remained sensitive at deficit irrigation (75% field capacity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a major abiotic constraint to sustainable crop production. Seed priming is a useful tool to enhance the performance of crops on saline soils. A field study was carried out to explore the potential of priming to improve salt tolerance in wheat cultivars MH-97 and SARC-1. Seeds were primed in distilled water (hydropriming) and aqueous solutions containing 50 mg L-1 of salicylic acid (SA), kinetin (Kin), ascorbate and 50 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2) for 12 h. After priming, seeds were sown in normal (0.31 dS m-1) and saline (10 dS m-1) fields. Seed priming with ascorbate, SA and Kin effectively alleviated the salinity-induced damage in both wheat cultivars; however, ascorbate priming was the most effective. Seed priming with SA, Kin and ascorbate significantly decreased the uptake of Na+ and Cl- and enhanced the uptake of K+ in leaves of both cultivars under salinity stress. These results suggest that priming with seed priming with ascorbate, SA and Kin are effective strategies to improve the wheat productivity under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]