Residual phosphorus and zinc influence wheat productivity under rice–wheat cropping system

Abstract

Continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deplete soil fertility and crop productivity. One strategy to increase crop productivity under rice–wheat system is balanced application of crop nutrients. Field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P ha−1) and zinc (0, 5, 10, 15 kg Zn ha−1) on the productivity of rice genotypes (fine and coarse) and their residual effects on the grain yield (GY) and its components (YC) of the succeeding wheat crop under rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) in North Western Pakistan during 2011–12 and 2012–13. After rice harvest in both years, wheat variety “Siren-2010” was grown on the same layout but no additional P, K and Zn was applied to wheat crop in each year. The GY and YC of wheat significantly increased in the treatments receiving the higher P levels (120 > 80 > 40 > 0 kg P ha−1) and Zn (15 > 10 > 5 > 0 kg Zn ha−1) in the previous rice crop. The residual soil P and Zn contents after rice harvest, GY and YC of wheat increased significantly under low yielding fine genotype (B-385) as compared to the high yielding coarse genotypes (F-Malakand and Pukhraj). The residual soil P and Zn, GY and of wheat increased significantly in the second year as compared with the first year of experiment. These results confirmed strong carry over effects of both P and Zn applied to the previous rice crop on the subsequent wheat crop under RWCS.

Foliar Phosphorus and Zinc Application Improve Growth and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Moisture Stress conditions in Semi-Arid Climates

“…Amanullah et al [2] reported significant variation (P<0.05) in plant height and LAI of maize while spraying NPK at different growth stages. The increase in plant height with P and Zn application was earlier reported by many researchers [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46].…”

“…In northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) having semiarid climate maize yield is very low1868 kg ha -1 [1]. Improper water and nutrients management are the two main factors that adversely affect the growth and crop productivity under moisture stress (drought) condition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (province of Pakistan [2]. Balance fertilization is essential for improving crop growth [3], increasing yield and harvest index [4], grain quality [5,6], fertilizer use efficiency [7] and profitability [8][9][10][11].…”

“…Application of Zn increases dry matter by increasing leaf chlorophyll contents [26] and increase in N and P efficiencies [27]. In soils the P interferes Zn uptake by the plants [2,28]. About the interaction of zinc and phosphorus numerous studies have been done and all confirms this point that zinc and phosphorus imbalance in the plant, as a result excessive accumulation of phosphorus, causing zinc imposed deficiency [29].…”

Potassium Management for Improving Growth and Grain Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Moisture Stress Condition

“…The two key features which adversely affect crop production under semiarid climates are the low amounts of rainfall and the unreliability 3 . Crop growth and productivity decline when plants suffer from drought stress in their life cycle 4 5 6 7 8 .…”

Nitrogen Source and Rate Management Improve Maize Productivity of Smallholders under Semiarid Climates

“…Therefore, increase in crop productivity depends on higher yield per unit area. Increased cropping intensity especially under cereal based cropping system removes plant nutrients (Amanullah and Inamullah, 2016) from the soil, in addition to natural nitrogen losses (Gehl et al, 2005). Therefore, it has become of foremost importance to select high yielding varieties and genotypes that can uptake and utilize nitrogen more efficiently (Hirel et al, 2001).…”