No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Objective Phosphate (P) and zinc (Zn) are essential plant nutrients required for nodulation, nitrogen-fixation, plant growth and yield. Mostly applied P and Zn nutrients in the soil are converted into unavailable form. A small number of soil microbes have the ability to transform unsolvable forms of P and Zn to an available form. P-Zn-solubilizing rhizobacteria are potential alternates for P and Zn supplement. In the present study, the effect of two P-Zn-solubilizing bacterial strains ( Bacillus sp. strain AZ17 and Pseudomonas sp. strain AZ5) was evaluated on the growth of chickpea plant. Methodology Both strains were purified from the rhizospheric soil of chickpea plant grown-up in sandy soil and rain-fed area (Thal desert). In vitro , both strains solubilize P and Zn as well both strain produce IAA and organic acids. In the field experiments, conducted in the rain-fed area, the positive influence of inoculation with both bacterial isolates AZ5 and AZ17 on chickpea growth was observed. Results The application of inoculum (strains AZ5 and AZ17) resulted in up to 17.47% and 17.34% increase in grain yield of both types of chickpea grown in fertilized and non-fertilized soil, respectively over non-inoculated control. Strain AZ5 was the most effective inoculum, increasing up to 17.47%, 16.04%, 26.32%, 22.53%, 26.12% and 22.59% in grain yield, straw weight, nodules number, dry weight of nodules, Zn uptake and P uptake respectively, over control. Conclusion These results indicated that Pseudomonas sp. strain AZ5 and Bacillus sp. strain AZ17 can serve as effective microbial inocula for chickpea, particularly in the rain-fed area.

This study investigates the combined effect of locally adopted plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biochar, and synthetic fertilizer on the wheat crop for the production and economic returns. A total of 20 PGPR strains were isolated from three different ecological zones of Pakistan and were evaluated. Of them, three isolates were selected for further studies. The treatments included (i) control with a full dose of the recommended fertilizer, (ii) control with half a dose of the fertilizer, (iii) PGPR consortia with half a dose of the fertilizer, (iv) biochar with half a dose of the fertilizer, and (v) PGPR + biochar with half a dose of the fertilizer. The study was repeated at three different locations. The data collected for leaf area index (LAI), grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, and harvest index (HI) revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) for the locations and treatments, but the interaction of location and treatments was not significant. Based on the productivity and economic returns, the treatment with PGPR + biochar with half a dose of the fertilizer proved to be the best. Thus, the use of the PGPR consortia and biochar can improve the yield and profit of wheat crop with reduced synthetic fertilization.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important component of global food security but its production is threatened by abiotic stresses in climate change scenarios, especially drought stress. Many multinational companies have introduced maize hybrids worldwide which have variable performance under diverse environmental conditions. The maize production is likely to be affected by a future water crisis. Potassium (K) is a well-known macronutrient which improves the performance of cereals under abiotic stresses. In this field experiment, we assessed the influence of soil applied K on the productivity of diverse maize hybrids grown under well-watered and drought stress conditions. The study consisted of three K levels viz., control (no KCl), KCl at 50 kg ha−1, and KCI at 75 kg ha−1 factorally combined with two irrigation levels (i.e., normal recommended irrigation, well-watered condition, and half of the recommended irrigation, drought stress condition) and eight maize hybrids. Irrigation was kept in main plots, potassium in subplot, and maize hybrids in sub-subplots. The results revealed that performance of the maize hybrids was significantly influenced by all three factors, and the interaction of irrigation with potassium and irrigation with hybrids was significant; results being non-significant for all other interactions. Potassium application improved yield traits and water productivity under both normal and water stress conditions but effect was more prominent under water stress conditions than normal conditions. Potassium application also alleviated drought susceptibility of all maize hybrids. In all cases, the performance of maize hybrids was maximum under potassium application at 75 kg ha−1.

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for plants, but mostly, soils do not have enough amounts of Zn available. This necessitates the application of supplementary Zn for proper growth and development of plants. Canola is an important oilseed crop of the world, but its yield attributes, protein and oil contents, and fatty acid composition are always being investigated for improvement under various agroclimatic conditions, which was the major objective of this study. This 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of soil applied Zn and cultivars for yield attributes and seed oil quality of canola. Treatment included four canola cultivars viz., Faisal canola, Pakola, PARC canola, and Rainbow factorally combined with three zinc levels (0, 5, and 10 kg ha −1). Zn fertilization improved yield attributes and yield of the canola cultivars, but cultivars differed in their response to Zn fertilization. Rainbow cultivar produced 24-27% higher seed yield at 10 kg ha −1 Zn as compared with control treatment. In addition, Pakola cultivar attained 0.5-1.5% higher oil contents at 5 kg ha −1 Zn when compared with the control treatment. However, soil applied 5 and 10 kg ha −1 Zn did not show any significant influence on protein contents of all canola cultivars. Zinc fertilization increased the seed yield and yield components of canola cultivars and significantly enhanced the oil contents. Rainbow cultivar was found to be the most responsive to Zn fertilization regarding the seed yield and oil contents and its fatty acid composition and economic returns.

No abstract