Effect of potash application on growth, yield and yield components of spring maize hybrids
Productivity of spring maize hybrids was compared under different levels of potash at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture KPK Peshawar during spring, 2014. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Four levels of K2O @ 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha , and four spring maize hybrids viz., 30K08, 2031, CS200 and 3025 were studied. The texture of the experimental area soil was silty clay loam with alkaline nature (pH 7.5-7.8). The soil was deficient in total N (≤ 0.53g kg soil) and K (≤ 92 mg kg) soil. A uniform dose of 150 kg N ha and 90 kg P ha in the form of urea and DAP was applied. Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits i.e. 50% at sowing and 50% at 2 irrigation. Sulphate of potash was used as a source of potash. All K and P dose was applied at sowing time. Results exhibited that there was a considerable effect of K2O levels on plant height, leaf area and yield and yield components except number of ears plant and plants at harvest. Applying K2O at the level of 90 kg ha boosted yield and yield components yet increasing level of K2O above 90 90 kg ha had no profound effect. Among the hybrids, CS200 performed better by producing more grain and biological yield. Hence for obtaining higher grain yield, Hybrid-CS200 with application of K2O at the rate of @ 90 kg ha -1 is recommended. Keyword: Potash levels; spring maize hybrids; yield and yield components
Physiological and Genetic Characteristics of High Nutrient Efficiency Plants in Acid Soils
Nutrient deficiencies are major limiting factors in acid soil for sustainable productivity. Morphological, physiological and genetic components of plants have profound effects on the ability of plants to uptake, transport and utilize nutrients. Characteristics of plants with high nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium efficiency in acid soils were summarized in this paper, in which the further studies of screening and breeding high nutrient efficiency genotypes suitable for acid soils were recommended.
Genetic diversity for nutrient use efficiency in cultivars and exotic germplasm lines of alfalfa
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is perhaps the most widely grown pasture legume in the world. Research was undertaken to evaluate the genetic diversity among selected cultivars and germplasm lines for growth, mineral uptake and mineral uptake efficiency ratios (ER). The ER is defined as milligrams of dry shoot weight produced per milligram of element in the shoot. Climatically controlled growth rooms were used to evaluate the performance of alfalfa in a nutrient culture system. Shoot and root dry weight of cultivars and germplasm lines gave a positive correlation with the uptake of various elements. The ER assisted in differentiating plants into efficient and inefficient utilizers of the absorbed nutrients. With few exceptions, the shoot and root dry weight gave positive relationships with ER for various elements. The cultivars and germplasm lines used in this study showed intraspecific genetic diversity in growth, nutrient uptake, and ER for the essential elements.