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Long-term soil disturbance due to regular tillage destroys the soil structure, particularly by reducing the soil organic matter content. This, in turn, can lead to declining crop yields. This study assessed the influence of wheat (Triticum æstivum L.) straw incorporation and timing prior to seeding at 6 Mg ha−1 (S+), relative to no straw (S−), on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield parameters, as well as on soil characteristics. There were four intervals between straw incorporation and maize seeding, i.e. 60, 45, 30 and 15 days before sowing. Compared to the S− (control), soil dry bulk density increased (p ≤ 0.05) under all S+ treatments. A significantly greater proportion of undesirable small aggregates (− treatment, as compared to $S_{60}^ +$ treatment. A similar, but less pronounced, trend was observed under $S_{45}^ +$ treatment. This trend was also evident for the $S_{30}^ +$ and $S_{15}^ +$ treatments. Generally, incorporation of straw 60 days prior to sowing led to achieving the best soil structure in terms of aggregation. Compared to S−, the soil organic matter showed a weakly significant (0.05 ≤ p ≤ 0.06) increase under straw amendment. Seedling emergence, plant height, cob length, the number of grain rows per plant, the number of grains per cob, as well as 1000 grain weight and yield were the highest under $S_{60}^ +$ , and the lowest under S−. The present study suggests that more research is necessary over longer time periods between straw incorporation and seeding on different crops, and in different soil types, in order to study the effects on soil properties, and on the growth and yield of crops.

A study was carried out in Mirpurkhas District of Sindh Province during the year 2015-16, aiming to observe post-harvest losses of onions associated with the cultivators. Following the random sampling 60 respondents were selected from 12 villages of 06 Talukas in the District. Interviews were conducted for the collection of data. Problems expressed were as; high cost of fertilizers (93.33%), high cost of pesticides (93.33%), hand weeding is labour consuming and expensive (91.66%), labour problems during harvesting (85%), ineffective and costly weedicides (80%), lack of knowledge about recommended fertilizers doses for onion crop (80%) and lack of knowledge about improved varieties (68.33%). The problems in marketing of onion include lack of remunerative price (96.66%), fluctuation in market price (93.33%) and high charges of transportation (20%). The present study suggested that training/ awareness programs should be conducted for cultivators regarding establishing technical storage and handling onion problems.