Search

Evolution of low moisture stress tolerant genotypes of cotton is a dire need of the time for sustainable/increased production of cotton in Pakistan. A study was conducted to estimate the varietal differences and genetic control of various within boll yield components and fiber quality traits under normal and moisture stress conditions. Five parents viz; PB-39, MNH-886, MNH-147, CIM-598, BH-95 and their ten direct crosses were grown in field in split plot arrangement under randomized complete block design with two replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the two treatments (normal and moisture deficit) and among the fifteen genotypes for all the recorded traits including bolls number per plant, weight per boll, seed cotton yield per plant, GOT, seeds number per boll, seeds mass per boll, lint mass per boll, fiber length, fiber strength and fiber fineness. Treatment × genotype interaction was also significant for all the traits except fiber fineness. Variance due to GCA and SCA were significant for most of the traits; however magnitude of dominance variance was higher than additive variance indicating prevalence of non-additive genetic control for all the traits under both the conditions. The phenotypic expression of all the genotypes varied greatly under the two growing conditions.

Raya (Brassica juncea L.) as an imperative oilseed crop, necessitates a judicious amount of fertilizers for its sufficient yield, however the soils in Pakistan are becoming nutrient scarce owing to extensive farming. In order to evaluate the accurate fertilizer requirement for potential raya yields, an experiment was conducted at Regional agricultural research institute, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during the years 2018-2020. Various combinations of NPK fertilizers were made and applied to Raya crop. The treatments were T1 (0-0-0 NPK kg/ha), T2 (0-60-60 NPK kg/ha) ,T3 (60-60-60 NPK kg/ha), T4 (90-60-60 NPK kg/ha), T5 (120-60-60 NPK kg/ha), T6 (90-0-60 NPK kg/ha), T7 (90-30-60 NPK kg/ha), T8 (90-90-60 NPK kg/ha),T9 (90-60-0 NPK kg/ha), T10 (90-60-30 NPK kg/ha) and T11 (90-60-90 NPK kg/ha). Subsequently, fertilizer recommendations were made on the basis of Mitscherlich-Bray equation. Theoretical maximum yield of Raya was obtained by plotting log y (grain yield) versus 1/x (amount of nutrient applied). The results showed that Soil have 10 kg (P ha?1) would need 125 kg Phosphorus oxide per hectare fertilizer to attain 90% grain yield. Moreover it was concluded that recommended dose of fertilizer for Raya was less in comparison to that achieved through application of Mitscherlich-Bray equation. From these results, it is crucial to assess the 90%maximum yield by implementing the formula prior to conducting of field trials in order to enhance economic outputs and to balance the nutrients in soils.