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The following are the titles and abstracts of the research papers published in July-September, 2002, Vol. 17 No.  Issue No 3 of Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research:

CURRENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION IN A RAINFED AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE IN NORTHERN PUNJAB

  Abdur Razzaq, M. Munir, N.I. Hashmi*, P.R. Hobbs ** and A. Majid

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol, 17 No. 3

ABSTRACT: This study is based on the surveys undertaken during wheat har­vest in the rainfed areas of Rawalpindi District of northern Punjab. Wheat yields were estimated by crop cut and data regarding management practices adopted by farmers for wheat in the same plots was collected. Eighty nine percent of the sample farmers were owner operators, only 11% tenants. Land type was classified as lepara land, near the homestead which receives farm yard manure and mera land further from the village. The most common cropping system is called Dosala where wheat and kharlf crops are grown in one year followed by the same land remaining fallow for the next whole year. On lepara land, double cropping every year was practiced on 46% of the sample fields. The average number of ploughings was 8.2 and varied from 1 to 20. There was a significant increase in the use of tractor ploughing in the 4 years of study from 35% to 70%. The average harvest date varied from April 15 to May V depending on temperature which was influenced by rainfall. Planting by drill on contract has risen from 20% in 1983 to 59% in 1986 replacing the pora method. About 7% of the farmer prefer the high quality variety C-591. Lyp-73 was the most popular variety but this is being replaced with the new variety Pak-81. Pak-81 increased from 26% to 55% during the study period at the expense of Lyp­73. The average yield of wheat was 1.98 t/ha.

 Key Words: Wheat; Harvest; Management Practices; Ploughing; Pakistan.

 STORAGE OF WHEAT WITH EARS

W. H. Shah, Zia ur Rehman, T. Kausar* and A. Hussain**

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: In wheat ears stored in mud-bin, losses due to insect infestation. were almost nil. One hundred insects added to the storage bins in the start of the experiments were multiplied to 314 and 674 in threshed wheat grains after 45 and 72 days of storage, respectively. Whereas, total number of insects in wheat ears were found only 104 and 132 after 45 and 72 days storage, respectively and more than two-third of those were dead. Storage in the form of grain or wheat ears did not have any significant effect on nutritional quality of the stored wheat.

Key Words: Post Harvest Losses; Stored Wheat; Insect Infestation; Grain; Nutritional Quality, Mortality, Pakistan.

 NITROGEN INDUCED CHANGES IN RICE PLANTS: EFFECTS ON HOST-INSECT INTERACTIONS

 

M. Salim*

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Effects of nitrogen (N) on growth, biomass, succulence and chemical composition of rice plants and on the host-insect interaction were determined through culture solution at 29°C/21°C day/night temperature and 70% RH at International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. Rice plants grown at low level of nitrogen (5 mg/1) in culture solution were with narrow, short and erect leaves and their height was 40% less than the plants grown in standard culture solution (40 mg N/1). Number of tillers per hill increased significantly with corresponding in­crease in the application of N. Excessive N application (200 mg/1) significantly reduced the root length and biomass than the plants grown in standard culture solution. Root to shoot ratio increased with corresponding increase in the appli­cation of N. Nitrogen and carbon contents in the leaf sheath of rice plants in­creased with corresponding increase of N. However, the quantity of silica and zinc and C-N ratio decreased with increase in the application of N. Increase in N induced succulence in rice plants which makes them more prone to insect pests. Changes in the level of N in the culture solution for raising rice plants profoundly affected the host-insect interactions. Intake and assimilation of food, growth and develop­ment, adult longevity, fecundity -and population increase of whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera was significantly higher at high level of N than at low level of  N.

Key Words: Rice; Nitrogen, Root; Shoot; Growth; Insect Pests; Chemical Composition; Succulence; Philippines.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION ON MUSTARD GROWTH AND YIELD

  Abdul Majid* and G. M. Simpson**

 Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Mustard (Brassica ,juncea L. cv. Cutlass) was grown under three irrigation regimes (triple, double and single) as well as under dry conditions (DC) in the field to study the effect of irrigation on its growth pattern and yield. Irriga­tion, substantially increased the amount and distribution of dry matter of the plant. Leaf area index (LAI) reached a maximum just after the start of flowering and then declined. Triple application increased leaf and pod areas in maximizing crop-growth rate (CGR) which increased to a maximum near early flowering and then declined. Triple application enhanced the net-assimilation rate (NAR), by improving leaf and pod areas during seed development and increased photosynthetic efficiency of the plant. The seed yield was increased to 4002 and  3080 kg/ha under triple irrigation 'compared to 2551 and 2140 kg/ha under dry condition in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The water-use efficiency (WUE),was increased by 32% and 33% with triple irrigation over the single irrigation in the consecutive years.

Key Words: Brassica juncea; Leaf Area Index; Dry Matter; Net Assimilation Rate; Crop­Growth Rate; Irrigation Regimes, Water-Use Efficiency; Yield; Canada.

 SUNFLOWER-SUMMER LEGUMES INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS: YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

Rashid Ibrar, Shahbaz Ahmad and M. Azim Malik

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Studies pertaining to the, productive efficiency of sunflower-summer legumes (soybean, mungbean and urdbean) intercropping systems under rainfed condi­tions revealed that plants/m2, plant height and harvest index of sunflower remained unaffected whereas stem girth, head diameter, seeds/head, seed weight/head, 1000 seed weight, economic yield and biological yield were affected significantly by the in­tercropping systems.: Plant height, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant (in urdbean only), number of pods/plant (in mungbean only), 1000-seed weight and harvest index, showed non-significant differences whereas number of plant,/m2, num­ber of pods/plant (in soybean and urdbean), pod length, number of seeds/pod, eco­nomic and biological yields were significantly decreased. The loss in the sunflower yield in intercropping systems was compensated much more by summer legumes.

Key Words: Helianthus annuus; Glycine max; Vigna radiata; V. mungo; Multiple Crop­ping, Pakistan.

 SOLAR DRYING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Maqbool Ahmad*, J.C. Hauser, C. Heijnen** and M.A. Chaudry***

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Studies on fabrication and standardization of a solar cabinet dryer and solar drying of fruits and vegetables were carried out. Evaporation rate of wa­ter in this dryer ranged from 0.091 to 0.106 g/cm2/h with an average of 0.100 _+ 0.004 during August. Small standard deviation clearly indicated uniform evapora­tion in all parts of the cabinet. A temperature of 80°C and 60°C during summer and winter, respectively, was achieved. The dryer costs Rs. 2083.00. It is simple, du­rable, portable hence can be used on remote isolated farms. Results of drying ex­periments clearly established that fruits (persimmon, apple) and vegetables (bittergourd, potato, onion, turnip) could be successfully dried. The dried produce was acceptable to the consumers. Irradiation of dried vegetables at 10 kGy had no significant effect on its rehydration ratio and eating quality.

E: Key Words: Persimmon; Apple; Bittergourd; Potato; Turnip; Onion; Post-~harvest; Solar Cabi­net Dryer; Evaporation Rate; Irradiation; Pakistan.

CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF AGRO-CLIMATES OF PAKISTAN

Rakhshan Roohi*, Shahid Ahmad** and Arshad Ashraf*

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: The country's geographical area covers around 88.2 mha including northern areas. Ecologically, the country has diversified physiography and cli­mate. To analyze the diversified status of the resources, a large dataset is required to interpret and analyze. GIS, being an accepted computer age management tool, helped to describe agricultural environments in Pakistan. For defining the agro­-environment, as a first step, the annual climatic data was classified according to the climatic seasonality i.e. winter and summer. The country experiences two dis­tinct seasons namely winter (Rabi) and summer (Kharif). The summer is wet due to monsoon, rains originating from the east while in winter the western fronts bring the moisture. The seasonal aridity and crop growth indices were used to characterize and classify the agro-environments. The aridity index refers to the ratio of 50% probability of rainfall and actual crop evapotranspiration. The aridity classes ranged from humid to hyper-arid. Based on the seasonal aridity classes, I8 zones were delineated. The crop growth index reflects the temperature availability for crop growth and is estimated as a ratio of growing degree-days available to those required by a particular crop. The crop growth classes defined ranged from deficit to excess. A total of 9 zones were defined by superimposing the seasonal crop growth maps. These two indices contributed to the classification of 57 agro-climates in Pakistan.

Key Words: Agro-Climate; Rabi; Khan, Aridity Index; Crop Growth Index; Growing Degree Days; Evapotranspiration; Pakistan.

 PERFORMANCE OF SORGHUM-SUDANGRASS HYBRIDS

M.Shafiq Zahid, M.U.Mufti, Safdar Shafeeq, Imtiaz A. Qamar and A.M.Haqqani*

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ASTRACT: A comparative study of nine sorghum-sudangrass hybrids was con­ducted under irrigated-cum-rainfed conditions. Among all the S.S. hybrids studied, ST-6E and 8X-17 produced taller plants, thicker stem, more tillers/plants and higher leaf area and hence, were high yielding in green and dry matter yields. These two hybrids also provided. maximum crude protein an per hectare basis. Therefore, on the basis of the present study cultivation of the  hybrids, ST-6E and SX-17 is recommend­ed for better yield and -quality performance under irrigated-cum-rainfed con­dition of Pothwar tract of Pakistan.

Key Words: Sorghum-Sudangrass Hybrids; Evaluation; Green Fodder; Dry Matter; Yield Components; Quality, Pakistan.

BULK AND. UNIPACKAGING OF PERSIMMON FOR SHELF LIFE EXTENSION

M. Ashraf Chaudhry, Nizakat Bibi and Abdus Sattar*

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

 

ABSTRACT: These studies were undertaken to compare unipackaging and bulk packaging for the extension of shelf life of fresh persimmon fruit. The mature but unripe garden picked fruits were either sealed individually (unipack) or bulk pack­aged alongwith unpackaged control samples. Control samples due to respiration/ transpiration lost maximum weight (13.1%) followed by bulk packaging (3.34%) and unipackaging (1.75%). However, statistically the difference in bulk and unipackaging was not significant at 5% level. During storage, the weight loss increased significantly (P< 0.05) from 1.7% (after one week) to 12.4% (after 6 weeks) of all the samples at room temperature. Unipackaged and bulk packaged samples were more firmer than control samples and the firmness decreased during 6 weeks storage. The per­cent loss of ascorbic acid recorded for control, bulk packaged and unipackaged samples were 36.1%, 30.9% and 29.2%, respectively. After 6 weeks, the unipackaged samples (7.42) got maximum' scores for overall acceptability followed by bulk pack­aged samples (7.25) and, the control samples (4.53). The relationship between weight loss and firmness, weight loss and external appearance scores and weight loss and overall acceptability scores were negative and highly significant (range r = 0.988 - 0.977). Flavour scores were not affected significantly by different packages.

Key Words: Unipackaging; Persimmon; Weight Loss; Ascorbic Acid; Content; Shelf Life; Firmness; Storage; Pakistan.

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF PYRILLA PRRPUSILLA WLK. AND ITS PARASITE EPIRICANIA MELANOLEUCA FLETCHER AT FAISALABAD

Zubair Ahmed Rana*, Muhammad Masud Mahmood** and Ali Asghar Hashmi***

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Studieson the population of Pyrilla perpusilla walker and Epiricania melanoleuca Fletcher were carried out at Faisalabad during March, 1987 to December 1987. Population of Pyrilla appeared in March, April and April while parasite in May, April and April at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, chak No.6/JB and chak No. 109/RB, respectively. Peak population of pyrilla and epiricania were recorded during August. Population of parasites were found to be increasing in proportion to that of its host. Highly positive correlations were found between the population of pyrilla and epircania. The percentage parasitism ranged was recorded from a low level of 4.16 - 64.74, experimental areas respectively:

Key Words: Pyrilla perpusilla; Epiricania melanclsuca; Parasitism; Nymphs; Adults; Cell 'Sap; Growth; Pakistan.

DETECTION OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS IN SEEDS OF MEAT, PADDY AND COTTON IN PAKISTAN

M. Afzal Akhtar* and M. Rauf Bhutta**

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Six hundred and eighty- seed samples of wheat, paddy and cotton were collected from major crop growing areas tested for seed-borne bacterial patho­gens. Thirty one wheat, seed samples, out of 351 samples were found infected by Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens. By dilution plate method, the highest number of infected wheat samples was found in variety Pak-81. Using the seedling symptom technique, maximum infection in paddy seeds was 7.5% in B-385 from Sahiwal and 11.0% in IRRI-6 from Lahore with X campestris pv. oryzae. Infection by Pseudomonas avenae was 13.0% in B-385 and 40% in IRRI-6. Out of 221 seed cotton samples tested, 28 were found infected with bacteria. Using standard pathogenicity test, the bacteria isolated from the seeds were confirmed to be seed-borne patho­gens.

 Key Words: Wheat; Rice; Cotton; Varieties; Seeds; Seed-borne Pathogens; Bacteria Xanthomonas campestris; Pseudomonas avenae; Detection; Pakistan.

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL TO PREDICT THE OUTBREAKS OF YELLOW RICE STEM BORER, SCIRPOPHAGA INCERTULAS.

A. Rehman*, C. Inayatullah** and A. Majid***

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Yellow rice stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) Lepi­doptera: Pyralidae is an important post of rice in temperate and tropical areas. Based on its moth catches from 1976 to 1987, the abiotic factors responsible for its outbreak have been determined. There were two peaks of moth population during the year, first in May on rice nurseries and second in September on rice crop. Analysis of weather data indicated that during YSB hibernation period (November-March), high maximum temperature, low minimum temperature, low relative humidity and rainfall; during its survival period on rice nurseries, volunteer rice, and sprouted rice stubbles (April-June), high temperature, high relative humidity and low rain­fall and during its survival on rice crop (July-October), low temperature, high rela­tive humidity and rainfall -resulted in YSB outbreaks. Occurrence of rainfall at the appropriate time was essential for YSB multiplication. High rainfall daring winter resulted in the decay of rice stubbles and thus lowered the survival of hibernating larvae in stubbles, whereas high rainfall during September was essential for its mass multiplication.

Key Words: Rice; Stem Borer, Scirpophaga, Ecology; Natural Control; Over- wintering; Hiber­nation; Biology; Temperature; Rainfall; Pakistan.

EVALUATION OF THIRTEEN OPEN POLLINATED CULTIVARS AND THREE HYBRIDS OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM) MILL): I. YIELD, PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS, SEED PRODUCTION AND VEGETATIVE GROWTH*

Rida A. Shibli, Mohammed A. Ajlouni, Khalil I. Ereifij and Altaf Hussain**

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: Thirteen open pollinated tomato (Lycopersicon.esculentum Mills.) cultivars and three hybrids were evaluated for their yield, incidence of physi­ological disorders, seed production and vegetative growth under field conditions. Marketable yield ranged from 76.18t/ha (Riogrande) to 37.07 t/ha (Money Maker) and total yield ranged from 98,12t/ha (Miasara Fl) to 65.73t/ha (Money Maker). All cultivars showed sensitivity to blossom-end rot: ranged from 6.0 (Pakit) to 0.74 t/ha (Money Maker). Highest cracking incidence was shown in Ebein (38.26 t/ha) and Rohaba (36.87 t/ha) and no cracking incidence was shown in Pakit. Individual fruit weight ranged from 189.28 (Ebein) to 48.58 (Rossol). Open pollinated cultivars showed good potential for seed production and ranged from 181.2kg/ha (Ebein) to 96.4 kg/ha (ACE 55 VF). Ebein gave the highest stem (2.83 t/ha) and leaves (2.12t/ha) dry weight. Among the tested cultivars, the open pollinated cultivars: Riogrande, Nagina and UC 134 are promising.

Key Words: Lycopersicon esculentum; Cultivars Yield; Blossom End Rot; Cracking; Seed Production; Jordan.

 TISSUE CULTURE STUDIES OF TEA (CAMELLIA SINENSIS L.)

Abdul Khaliq, Hamid Rashid and Azra Quraishi*

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 17,  No. 3

ABSTRACT: The present study is an attempt to develop in vitro protocols for the micro-propagation of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Media formulations for micro-propagation and somatic embryogenesis through the intermediary of callus formation have been devised for tea cultivars c.vs., Qi-Men, Jue-Keng and Ruopi. Results revealed that all the three varieties responded to callogenesis on media tested. Plants produced from somatic embryos could be further used for clonal propagation.

Key Words: Camellia sinensis; Micro-propagation; Embryogenesis; Tissue Culture; Pakistan.