Soil Chemical Analysis

Nature And Properties Of Soils

U Hrvatskoj nikada nije bilo oplemenjivackih programa za povrce, vec su sorte kreirane entuzijazmom autora kao "sporedni" proizvod znanstveno-istraživackog rada na povrcu. Na Sortnoj listi poljoprivrednog bilja RH, zakljucno s 2010. godinom, ima 17 sorti povrca koje su kreirane i upisane u listu od 1964. godine.

The vegetable crops

Plants are exposed to any number of potentially adverse environmental conditions such as water deficit, high salinity, extreme temperature, submergence, etc. These abiotic stresses adversely affect the plant growth and productivity. Nowadays various strategies are employed to generate plants that can withstand these stresses. In recent years, seed priming has been developed as an indispensable method to produce tolerant plants against various stresses. Seed priming is the induction of a particular physiological state in plants by the treatment of natural and synthetic compounds to the seeds before germination. In plant defense, priming is defined as a physiological process by which a plant prepares to respond to imminent abiotic stress more quickly or aggressively. Moreover, plants raised from primed seeds showed sturdy and quick cellular defense response against abiotic stresses. Priming for enhanced resistance to abiotic stress obviously is operating via various pathways involved in different metabolic processes. The seedlings emerging from primed seeds showed early and uniform germination. Moreover, the overall growth of plants is enhanced due to the seed-priming treatments. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of various crops in which seed priming is practiced and about various seed-priming methods and its effects.

Seed priming for abiotic stress tolerance: an overview

Application of common duckweed (Lemna minor) in phytoremediation of chemicals in the environment: State and future perspective.

Field experiments were conducted at the New Developmental Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2002-03 and 2003-04 to investigate the impacts of nitrogen (N) rate and its time of application on leaf area, plant height and biomass yield of maize (Zea mays L., cv. Azam) planted at low and high density. Factorial experimental treatments comprising two plant densities (P1 = 60,000 and P2 = 100,000 plants ha -1 ) and three nitrogen rates (N1 = 60, N2 = 120 and N3 = 180 kg N ha -1 ) were kept in main plots, while six split application for N in different proportions were kept in subplots at different growth stages of maize in two equal (S1), three equal (S2), three unequal (S3), four equal (S4), five equal (S5) and five unequal splits (S6) at sowing and with 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th irrigation at two weeks intervals. Mean single leaf area (MSLA), and plant height was significantly higher in 2002-03 than in the 2003-04. Maize produced significantly taller plant and ear heights as well as biomass yield at high than at low density. MSLA and leaf area per plant (LAPP), plant and ear heights as well as biomass yield showed a remarkable increase with increasing N rate and number of N split applications. It is concluded that growing maize at high density with application of 50% higher N rate (180 kg ha -1 ) than the recommended rate of N (120 kg ha -1 ) in four to five splits can increase leaf area and plant height that could result in maximum biomass yield of maize and hence increase productivity of maize crop.

Nitrogen levels and its time of application influence leaf area, height and biomass of maize planted at low and high density.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of seed priming on emergence and yield of soybean (Glycine max) cv. William-82 at NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2003 and 2004. The seed was primed using 0 (deionized water), -0.2, -0.5, -1.1 and -1.8 MPa Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions for 6, 12 and 18 h using dry seed (non primed) as a control. Thereafter, the seed was washed and dried back to its original moisture content at room temperature and sown in the first week of May during both years. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design having four replications. The plot size was 2m x 3m with 50 cm apart rows and plant to plant distance of 10 cm was used. Seed primed at different osmotic potentials differed significantly for days to emergence, emergence m -2 and grain yield. Seed primed at osmotic potential of -1.1 MPa had quicker and improved emergence per unit area and resulted in higher grain yield of soybean. Likewise, seed priming duration of 6 h resulted in faster and improved emergence and higher grain yield of soybean. It is concluded that seed priming hastens and improves emergence and enhances grain yield of soybean.

Seed priming improves emergence and yield of soybean

Combining ability analysis to identify suitable parents for heterosis in seed cotton yield, its components and lint % in upland cotton

In Pakistan, maize (Zea mays L.) is grown following a wheat crop under conventional tillage practices since long ago. The present concern about the soil fertility degradation, soil erosion and environmental pollution due to the intensive tillage practices and high inorganic fertilization is an important issue. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of various organic and inorganic nitrogen treatments under three tillage systems i.e., Deep tillage (DT), conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) on maize planted after wheat crop. Tillage significantly affected all parameters studied. Minimum tillage and CT proved superior in terms of emergence m 2 , plant height, grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and leaf area index compared to DT and were statistically at par with each other. Likewise, various organic and inorganic nitrogen treatments significantly affected all parameters except grains per cob. Farmyard manure application @ 20 tons ha -1 combined with 60 kg N ha -1 performed better than all other treatments and resulted in greater emergence, taller plants, higher thousand-grain weight, more leaf area index and greater grain and biological yields. It is concluded that FYM application in combination with minimum N is an alternative and sustainable practice of soil management for crop production either in MT or CT practices.

Organic and inorganic nitrogen treatments effects on plant and yield attributes of maize in a different tillage systems

Field trials were conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during summer 2006 to investigate the effect of tillage and Zinc application methods on maize yield and its associated weeds. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement having 3 replications. The main plot consisted of conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT) while Zn application methods were assigned to the subplots which included seed priming (dry seed, soaking seed in water, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03% Zn solutions), foliar spray of 0.01% Zn solution, soil application @ of 5 kg ha -1 and combination of soil application (@ 5 kg ha -1 ) plus foliar spray (0.01% Zn solution). Tillage significantly affected weed density (WD) and yield of maize. CT suppressed WD recorded 21 and 42 days after sowing (DAS). Likewise, CT also suppressed the major weeds viz., Cyperus rotundus, Digitaria sanguinalis and Convolvulus arvensis. Higher grain yield was recorded in CT plots as compared to RT. Zinc application methods significantly affected WD recorded 42 days after sowing and grain yield of maize. The interaction between tillage and Zn application methods for WD recorded 42 DAS was also significant. Greater WD was recorded in RT as compared to CT. Mean of the interaction values indicated that WD was lower in CT as compared to RT irrespective of Zn application methods. Yield was higher in CT as compared to RT. Likewise water soaking and Zn application methods improved maize yield as compared to control. It is concluded that CT resulted in lower WD and higher yield of maize. Furthermore, water soaking and Zn application methods enhanced grain yield of maize as compared to control.

Khan Bahadar Marwat

Papers

Nitrogen levels and its time of application influence leaf area, height and biomass of maize planted at low and high density.

Seed priming improves emergence and yield of soybean

Combining ability analysis to identify suitable parents for heterosis in seed cotton yield, its components and lint % in upland cotton

Organic and inorganic nitrogen treatments effects on plant and yield attributes of maize in a different tillage systems

Effect of tillage and zinc application methods on weeds and yield of maize