Habib Akbar

CHICKPEA RESPONSE TO TILLAGE SYSTEM AND PHOSPHORUS MANAGEMENT UNDER DRYLAND CONDITIONS

A field study was conducted at the Research Farm of NWFP, Agricultural University, Pakistan. Chickpea (Cicer aeritinum L.) cultivar, ‘Hassan-2000’, was sown as a winter crop under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) dryland systems in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement using four replications. Three levels of phosphorus (P; 0, 80 and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1) were broadcast applied at the time of last plowing and were thoroughly mixed in subplot size of 1.8 × 5 m. About 20% less weed biomass and 2% higher grain yield was recorded under CT than in NT. Plots supplied with P2O5 had higher value of the all the parameters under study except number of plant m−2 when compared with control (no P applied). However, the grain yield response to P beyond 80 kg ha−1 was not positive. CT + 80 kg P2O5 ha−1 was identified as the optimum level for maximum chickpea production under the existing dryland condition where application of herbicides in NT is not possible. Further experiments to study the optimization of P in chickpea production under dryland conditions are required.

Effect of Nitrogen Application Timing on Yield Components, Fodder, Grain, and Oil Yields of Brassica Cultivars

ABSTRACT The dual-purpose use of Brassica cultivars means cutting or grazing the crop as fodder and then letting it to re-grow and produce grain with little or no yield penalty. A field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement with three replications. Three Brassica cultivars, three nitrogen application timing, and cutting treatments were included in the experiment. The findings indicated that Brassica cultivar Abasin-95 produced higher fresh and dry fodder yields, seeds pod−1, seed, biological, and oil yields. However, NIFA Raya resulted in a higher number of pods and branches plant−1. Likewise, fresh and dry fodder yields were higher with nitrogen (N) application all at sowing. Nitrogen applied in two splits resulted in a higher number of pods plant−1 and grain yield. Cutting suppressed all parameters except 1000 grain weight. Uncut plots produced significantly higher branches plant−1, pods plant−1, seeds pod−1, seed, biological, and oil yields than cut plots.