A ny material (organic or inorganic), applied to soil to provide one or more essential plant nutrients is called fertilizer (Vidya and Lakshmi, 2014). Weeds are one of the overlooked natural resources that can support and help to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. The addition of compost to salt-affected soil improved the soil properties including soil porosity water holding capacity, improved nutritional status, bulk density, soil pH s , EC e and SAR (Zaka et al., 2018;Wright et al., 2007).Aquatic weed, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) grows at an alarming rate and float freely on rivers, ponds, lakes etc. (Lata and Veenapani, 2011). Due to its harmful effects on people's livelihoods and water bodies, it is known as the most obnoxious weed in the world (Wilson et al., 2005;Singh and Bishnoi, 2013). Attempts made to control this weed through different means like biological, physical and chemicals have met with little success (Abdelsabour, 2010). Nonetheless, different researchers presented the idea to obtain the benefits from this aquatic weed rather than seeing it as a rogue plant (Anjanabha and Abstract | Composting the unwanted aquatic weeds for supply of essential plant nutrients and improving the health of salt-affected soil is a simpler technique. Therefore, present research work was carried out to appraise the efficacy of water hyacinth compost as an ameliorant for improving the deteriorated properties of saline-sodic soil. Treatments included were; T 1 , control, T 2 , gypsum @ 100 % GR, T 3 , gypsum @ 50 % of GR, T 4 , hyacinth compost @ 15 t ha -1 , T 5 , gypsum @ 50 % of GR + hyacinth compost @ 5 t ha -1 , T 6 , gypsum @ 50 % of GR + hyacinth compost @ 10 t ha -1 , T 7 , gypsum @ 50 % of GR + hyacinth compost @ 15 t ha -1 . At start of study, soil had pH s (pH of soil saturated past) = 8.91, SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) = 44.24, EC e (electrical conductivity of soil extract) = 5.02 (dS m -1 ), GR (gypsum requirement) = 10.18 (t ha -1 ), BD (bulk density) = 1.66 (Mg m -3 ), HC (hydraulic conductivity) = 0.35 (cm hr -1 ). Rice and wheat, crops were grown in the rotation. Data analysis showed that gypsum and hyacinth compost remarkably improved the soil SAR, pH s , EC e , BD, HC, growth and yield characteristics of rice and wheat crops, however at the same time use of gypsum and hyacinth compost in combination proved more superior to their sole application. Hyacinth compost @ 10 and 15 t ha -1 with gypsum @ 50 % of GR performed equally in all studied parameters of rice and wheat crops and soil properties. Therefore, integrated use of gypsum @ 50 % of GR + hyacinth compost @ 10 t ha -1 , seem as economical and a potential agro-ecological strategy for improving the deteriorated properties of saline-sodic soil and crop production.
Phosphorus is an indispensable macronutrient for sustaining plant growth. According to Alam et al. (2009) maximum yield potential of a crop cannot be achieved without supply of optimum dose of phosphorus. Phosphorus plays a critical role in plant root system, flowering, uniform grain filling, seed maturity, regulation of metabolic pathways, photosynthates and enzymatic activities (Bhattacharyya and Jain, 2000).
This article presents theoretical and empirical underpinnings between job designs and employees’ work motivation in banking sector of Multan city, Pakistan. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design in which 362 employees participated through simple random sampling technique. The findings of the study revealed that female employees are more motivated towards their jobs than male employees. Moreover, job characteristics and job rotation are high among senior bank employees having experience greater than 12 years. The study concluded that job enrichment is the highest influential factor in determining employees work motivation while quality of work life is negatively influencing their enthusiasm level towards job. In the wake of new technological transformations, academic insight into the current work would further guide the policy makers for designing the jobs for banking sector through decentralization of managerial powers, changing in accordance with the global trends, as well as applying autonomous, mastery oriented and purposely directed policies.
In Pakistan, orchards are irrigated using flood irrigation system that is considered sub-economical regarding water use efficiency. Considering the importance of natural water resources, there was a need to devise the method of applying irrigation water that would save water consumption, environmentally friendly and easily adopted by the growers. Thus, a research trial was conducted at Citrus Research Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan on 0.41 ha area of Kinnow mandarin. The total area was divided into two parts, half of the area was used for furrow irrigation system and the remaining half was used for flood irrigation system. Tensiometers were installed in the soil in furrow and flood irrigation system to assess the moisture condition in the soil. Irrigations were applied when tensiometer readings reached 40 centibars. The quantity of water used for irrigation was measured with a flume meter and then percentage of water saving was calculated. The study revealed that furrow irrigation system significantly improved the number of fruits per tree (1153), fruit yield (179.89 kg per plant) and juice percentage (48.38%) compared with flood irrigation system where the number of fruits per tree were711, fruit yield was 110.61 kg per plant and juice percentage was 46.31%. However, TSS/acidity ratio, and peel and rag percentage were not affected by the different irrigation systems. In furrow irrigation system 24 irrigations were applied per year with average water saving of 46.14% and water use efficiency (WUE) was 4.58 kg m-3 whereas in flood irrigation system average numbers of irrigations were 15 per year and WUE was 2.34 kg m-3only. Therefore, furrow irrigation system is recommended for the citrus growers to improve the water use efficiency, yield and fruit quality of Kinnow mandarin.
ABSTRACT. Amelioration of salt-affected soils requires an integrated management approach, which not only improves their effectiveness for improving soil properties, but also increases the crop production and quality of the produce. Hence, a study was planned to evaluate combined use of organic and inorganic amendments for better rehabilitation of salt affected soil in ricewheat cropping sequence from 2013 to 2016. Treatments included T 1 -control, T 2 -gypsum @ 100 SGR, T 3 -CaCl 2 @ 50% SGR, T 4 -CaCl 2 @ 50% SGR + biogas slurry @ 10 tˑha for wheat (Inqlab-91) and 110-90-60 NPK kg ha -1 for rice (Shaheen Basmati) was applied. Soil samples were collected before application of amendment and after harvesting of each crop. Straw and grain/paddy yield data were recorded at maturity. Pooled data showed that grain/paddy and straw yield of wheat and rice crop was higher in T 2 (gypsum @ 100% SGR), but statistically (P≤ 0.05) non significant with T 4 (CaCl 2 @ 50% SGR + biogas slurry @ 10 tˑha -1 ). T 3 (CaCl 2 @ 50 % SGR) was at par with T 6 (H 2 SO 4 @ 25% SGR + biogas slurry @ 10 tˑha -1 ), followed by T 5 (H 2 SO 4 @ 25% SGR). The minimum yield was recorded in T 1 (control). Soil analysis showed that pH s , EC e and SAR were significantly decreased in T 2, (Gypsum @ 100% SGR), followed by T 4 (CaCl 2
Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world's largest agricultural production systems. Intensive farming techniques, unbalanced application of chemical fertilizers without proper review of soil nutrient status, poor soil management and high-yielding crop varieties have resulted in a substantial decrease in soil organic matter (SOM) and crop productivity over the past decades. [1, 2]. A useful strategy to feed the rapidly growing population is to increase the unit area production by using existing agricultural area and resources [3]. This can be accomplished by growing improved crop varieties [4], site specific way of fertilizer application [5], integrated
Four basic and interrelated language skills i.e., listening, reading, writing and speaking have long been used by language teachers as a prerequisite as well as an indispensable part of foreign language teaching. In this context, the key intent of this survey design quantitative study was to examine views of undergraduate students about the extent of efficacy of these basic language skills in enhancing their learning and how students approach and use each of the skills. The data used to reach the conclusions were collected through a 23 item self-developed questionnaire comprising four sub-scales i.e., listening (5 items), reading (9 items), writing (5 items), and speaking (4 items). The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 207 male and female students randomly selected from three departments of one public university in Pakistan. Based on the descriptive and inferential analyses of students’ responses, it was concluded that students consider all the four basic language skills as an effective and helpful tool for enhancement of their learning as well as delivery of information. The study finally recommends teaching these skills to students at early educational levels with different methods and approaches to make them more successful and willing learners.
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