To cite this paper: Mahmood, I.A. and A. Ali, 2015. Response of direct seeded rice and wheat crops to phosphorus application with crop residue incorporation in saline-sodic soil. AbstractA long term field study using permanent layout was conducted to investigate the effect of P application (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P2O5 ha ) for both DSR and wheat crop were kept in main plots and P application was in sub plots. Data on tillering, plant height, panicle length, paddy and straw yields was collected from both rice and wheat crops. On an average of two year DSR data, maximum tillers (16), panicle length (27), grain panicle -1 (89) and paddy yield (2.75 t ha -1) was produced with P application @ 80 kg P2O5 ha -1 along with CR incorporation, which was considerably better (13%) than that of P application @ 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 without CR incorporation. A significant increase (22% and 19%) over control in paddy and wheat grain yields, respectively was observed with 80 kg P2O5 ha -1 application along with CR incorporation. Overall, continuous two year CR incorporation further increased 9% paddy during the follow up year of crop harvest as compared to without CR incorporation. Maximum wheat grain yield (2.84 t ha -1 ) was harvested with 80 kg P2O5 ha -1 + CR and was significantly higher than grain yield (2.68 t ha -1 ) receiving 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 without CR incorporation. Higher concentrations of P, K and Ca 2+ in plant tissues (rice and wheat) were found where P was applied @ 80 kg P2O5 ha -1 along with CR incorporation or 120 kg P2O5 ha -1 alone while Na + and Mg 2+ concentration decreased with increasing the rate of P. Overall, an increasing trend in paddy yield of DSR was observed with increasing the rate of P application without CR incorporation during both the cropping years.

Abstract:In Pakistan the legumes are grown mostly in rain-fed areas of marginal lands where soil fertility and native rhizobial populations are low. The result is lower yield of legumes compared with other countries. The experiments carried out by the scientists of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad and other research institutes, have shown significant yield increases of legumes by inoculation with appropriate rhizobium strains. In these experiments the highest yield increase was noted in case of soybean ranging 30-196 percent. Yield increase of chickpea and peas was generally in the range of 20-40 percent, whereas increase in case of other food legumes i.e., lentil, mung and mash was 10-20 percent. Although these yield increases are quite reasonable, the adoption of inoculant is almost negligible, not increasing beyond 20,000 ha per annum. The demand from farmers has not increased. The farmers and field workers are needed to be educated with the technology in order to enhance use of inoculants. The inoculant production in the country is far below than required but it could be easily increased many fold provided its demand is created. Also, field worker/farmers are not properly educated in their use. There is a strong need for the private sector to develop large-scale production facilities and supply of proper rhizobial inoculants for the various legumes grown in Pakistan.

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A field trial was conducted in Pindi Bhattian area on sandy loam soil (EC 4.85 dSm-1 ; pH 7.95; hydraulic conductivity 3.92 cm h-1 ; bulk density 1.42 g cm-3) to evaluate the growth performance of ten commercially cultivated sunflower genotypes under saline conditions. Ten sunflower genotypes were sown in plots (2.25 m x 15 m) according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replicates keeping the line-to-line distance of 75 cm and the plant-to-plant distance of 30 cm. The P 2 O 5 (60 kg ha-1) and K 2 O (100 kg ha-1) fertilizers were applied as SSP and SOP, respectively, at the time of sowing, while N (60 kg ha-1) was applied in two equal splits (one half at sowing time and the other half at first irrigation). Five plants from each plot were randomly selected at maturity to get data on plant height (cm), shoot fresh weight (g), head fresh weight (g), and head diameter (cm). The upper fully matured leaves along with petiole (each from five plants) were collected for leaf area (cm 2). Sodium, K, Ca and Mg were analyzed in digested samples using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Maximum shoot fresh weights by DK-3915, PARSUN-1 and CRN-1435 closely followed by PARC-9707 were 695.9, 682.3, 669.9 and 578.4 g per plant, respectively. Head fresh weights were highest in CRN-1435, 6451 and DK-3915. The cultivar 6451 produced a comparatively low shoot fresh weight but was significantly (p<0.0001) superior in seed yield (2475 kg ha-1) that was 47% higher than the maximum shoot biomass producing variety DK-3915. The cultivars CRN-1435 and HU-777 were also among the highest seed yielding genotypes. K + concentrations in leaves, petiole and stem of the genotype Super-25 and cultivar 6451 were maximum compared with the other genotypes. Generally, the cultivars having high concentration of K + maintained a low concentration of Na + in its leaves. The high potassium concentrations in leaves, petioles and stems suppressed the detrimental effect of Na + ions on 1000-grain weight and percentage of oil. High Ca 2+ concentrations were observed in leaves, petioles and stems of PARC-9707 and PARC-9706.