Organic amendment like compost application can improve soil quality and enhance crop production in agricultural system. Two years field trials were carried out during 2011-12 at New Developmental Farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Thirteen compost treatments including control as main plot treatment and two fert-N levels (0 and 75 kg N ha -1 ) as subplot treatments were used. Compost materials i.e. farmyard manure (FYM), cereal residue (CR) and legume residue (LR) were composted as sole or in various combinations six weeks before sowing and then were incorporated to plots at sowing both the years. All treatments including control were either supplemented with half of the recommended dose (75 kg N ha -1 ) of Urea-N or no Urea-N. Compost, its composition, mineral N and their interactions significantly affected maize yield and yield components over two years average data. Compost application produced more maize ears m -2 (13%), grains ear -1 (28%), 1000 grains weight (14%), biological yield (56%), grain yield (65%) and harvest index (5%) over control. Among varying composition composts, higher grains ear -1 (274), 1000 grains weight (270.7g), biological yield (16151 kg ha -1 ) and grain yield (4803 kg ha -1 ) were observed for 100% FYM compost. Higher grains ear -1 (245), 1000 grains weight (255.3 g), biological yield (13374 kg ha -1 ), grain yield (3949 kg ha -1 ) and harvest index (29.5%) were recorded for added fert-N. Significantly more ears m -2 (8%), grains ear -1 (8%), 1000 grains weight (8%), biologically yield (14%), grain yield (26%) and harvest index (10%) were obtained in the following year over 1 st year. Maize performance linearly increased with increase in FYM (25 to 75%). Compost application with or without fert-N, enhanced maize productivity, in a more productive and sustainable way. FYM as composting material is superior over legume and cereal residue.
The effects of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) on the growth, yield and quality of wheat were studied at The University of Agriculture, Peshawar during the year 2009-10. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement with N rates as main plot factor i.e., optimum N at sowing: 120 kg ha -1 , excessive N at sowing: 200 kg ha -1 , optimum split N at sowing and anthesis: 60-60 kg ha -1 , excessive split N at sowing and anthesis: 100,100 kg ha -1 and Soil and foliar applied S as subplot factor i.e., Untreated/control, soil S at stem extension: 20 kg ha -1 , foliar S at stem extension: 20 kg ha -1 , soil S at anthesis: 20 kg ha -1 , foliar S at anthesis: 20 kg ha -1 , foliar S at Stem extension and anthesis: 10,10 kg ha -1 were used. S application at stem extension (20 kg ha -1 ) either applied to soil or foliage of the crop caused greater grain yields irrespective of the dose of N application (optimum or excessive). The increased grain yields appeared to be the result of a higher number of spikes produced due to applied foliar S (20 kg ha -1 ) at stem extension or then it may be the result of a higher leaf area produced due to S (20 kg ha -1 ) application to the soil at stem extension. Sulphur at 20 kg ha -1 should be applied to the wheat crop at stem extension, either as foliar spray or to the soil alongside applications of an optimum dose of N, i.e., 120 kg ha -1 in order to improve both the quantity and quality of the produce.
In country like Pakistan where population is growing at an alarming rate, food shortage is the top challenge for researchers. To contribute to this effort, field trials entitled "Effect of fertilizer dose on the performance of spring cereals" were conducted at Cereal Crops Research Institute Pirsabak Nowshehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during 2010-2011. The experiment was laid out in RCB design with split plot arrangement replicated three times, with plot size 5X1.8m, having 6 rows 30cm apart. Fertilizer doses were allotted to main while cereal species were allotted to subplots. Fertilizer dose, cereal species and their interaction had significantly affected cereal performance. Application of 60:30:30 and 120:60:60 (N:P:K kg ha-1) significantly affected plant height and phenology of cereals than no NPK. Application of 60:30:30 and 120:60:60 produced 55% and 62% more grain yield respectively than no NPK. Wheat, triticale and oat phenology was significantly delayed, oat and triticale produced taller plants than wheat and barley. Triticale yield was significantly higher than barley, wheat and oat. In case of interactions triticale with 120:60:60 NPK took more days to heading (131) and physiological maturity (168), while barley took less days to heading (109) and physiological maturity with no NPK. Significantly taller plants were produced by oat (129 cm) at 120:60:60 while barley produced dwarf plants (73cm) with no NPK. In case of grain yield, triticale produced more yield (5275 kg ha-1) with 60:30:30 while oat gave lowest yield (2433 kg ha-1) with no NPK. It is concluded that triticale and barley performed well on less fertile soil than wheat and oat. For optimum production, 60:30:30 and 120:60:60 (N: P: K kg ha-1) are recommended for barley/triticale and wheat/oat respectively, in conditions similar to Nowshehra.
Tobacco is an important cash crop which is affected by different diseases in different stages of life cycle. For the control of these diseases different pesticides are used. In the present study, Speight G-28 of FCV (Flue Cured Virgin) was grown in the experimental beds to evaluatethe effect of different fertilizers (i.e., Di Ammonium Phosphate, Ammonium Nitrate, Nitrophas, Super Phosphate, FYM and control) on the incidence of damping-off disease in tobacco nursery. Results showed the maximum disease was occurred in FYM (Farm Yard Manure) treated beds followed by super phosphate and the minimum disease were reported in DAP (Di Ammonium Phosphate) treated beds and followed by Nitrate. FYM was the primary source of infection causing damping-off disease. It was known that for the control of damping off disease there were many factors which were correlated to each other e.g. temperature, moisture, and soil nutrient. It was also observed that no seedlings were emerging in bed containing urea fertilizer due to ammonia gas formation which suppresses the seeds to germinate.
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