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The study was designed to compare economics of mechanical transplanting of rice over manually transplanting method of rice cultivation in the context of low yield in manual transplanting over mechanical method. The primary data was collected through face to face farmer interviews for three different categories of rice varieties namely i) basmati ii) coarse and iii) PK-1121 by using a questionnaire. The results revealed that average paddy yield of Basmati , Coarse and PK-1121 rice varieties grown by manual transplanting method was 45, 49, 48 monds /acre respectively as compared to 51, 52, 51 monds by mechanical transplanting method. However, per acre economic cost of production by manual means for Basmati (PKR 70847/acre), Coarse (PKR 62031/acre) and PK-1121 (PKR 64464/acre) rice varieties were less than with mechanical transplanting method i.e, PKR.77295, 72029 and 75445 respectively. Overall a significant rise in per acre economic profit was observed for Basmati and Coarse varieties grown by mechanical transplantation method i.e., PKR. 21186 and PKR. 9190 per acre as compared to manual method of transplanting i.e. PKR. 17376 and PKR.6601 per acre. BCR (Benefit-Cost-Ratio) for these three categories of rice varieties is greater for mechanical transplantation method i.e., 2.43, 2.03 and 2.44 as compared to manual means which is 2.33, 1.90 and 2.44 respectively for basmati, coarse and PKR-1121. Moreover, extent of harvesting with rice specific kaboota harvester was more towards mechanically transplanted area as compared to manually transplanted area of all the 03 categories of rice namely basmati, coarse and PK-1121.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF030202

Field experiments were performed for two successive crop seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) to evaluate the effectiveness of various post emergence herbicides for controlling broad-leave weeds in wheat field and their impact on grain yield of wheat at Adaptive Research Farm Sheikhupura Punjab, Pakistan. The effects of herbicides on weed density, yield attributes and grain yield were recorded. Significant impact of herbicides was recorded in decreasing weed density and increasing grain yield with a positive effect on productive tillers, grains per spike and thousand grains weight. Highest weed control efficiency (85.0 & 86.7) (81.5 & 84.3) was calculated from broad-X & wheat star as compared to control during both crop seasons. Maximum grain yield (3783.3 & 4310.0 kgha-1) was recorded from plots treated with broad-X with 19.8 and 26.7 % higher than control followed by wheat star that recorded 19.6 and 21.0% higher grain yield as compared to the control during both years. Among the studied herbicides, chlorpyralid+ fluroxypyr methy+ MCPA (broad-X) and chlorpyralid+ fluroxypyr methyl+ tribenuran methyl (wheat star) were the most effective and suitable options in controlling broad leaved weeds as well as increasing the grain yield of wheat crop.

10.52587/JAF030203

Biochemical and hematological parameters were poorly determined in Pakistani camels. An attempt was therefore made to characterize these parameters of the breed of Marecha dromedarius camels reared in agricultural desert conditions. Various biochemical parameters were tested in twenty camels of both sexes. Mean hemoglobin concentration, energy and protein parameters were higher in male camels than female camels except glucose concentration which was higher in females. Urea and creatinine values were similar amongst the both sexes. The results are discussed and compared with data reported in the literature for camel species. About the biochemical profile of the blood of Pakistani camel is determined very briefly. The research was designed to determine the biochemical parameters of blood in Marecha dromedary camels of both sexes raised in the desert ecology of the farm. About 14 camels were divided into G1 - from four females (without oestrus) and G2 - from ten females (non-pregnant) raised under semi-open stables, fed concentrate, straw, browsing and water twice a day. Deworming and vaccination were carried out at three-month intervals. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematochemical parameters and minerals were tested. The mean Hb concentration was significantly higher in males than in females (15.16±0.79 and 14.46±0.68 g/dl). Mean concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in male camels than in females (60.18±5.24, 37.44±4.16 and 58.32±4.88, 34.98±4.12 respectively, in G1 and G2), while glucose concentration was higher in she-camels. Total proteins, albumin and globulin values were significantly higher in males than in females (8.12±1.66, 4.06±1.28, 3.86 ±0.92 and 6.96 ±1.22, 3 ,16 ±1.44, 3.28 ±1.26 respectively, in G1 and G2). Urea and creatinine values did not show any treatment effect. In the mineral analysis, the average concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were 9.82 ±1.26, 4.72 ±1.12 and 9.39 ±1.18 and 4.33±0.98 in G1 and G2, respectively. It is opined that these results could be used as a baseline for future studies.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF030201

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is a major cereal crop moderately affected by salinity. Exogenous application of amino acids can improve the crop performance under salt stress. With the purpose to induce salt tolerance, 1% amino acids mixture (containing glutamic acid 8%, arginine 6%, proline 2.5%, lysine 2%, and serine 4%) solution was foliarly applied to eight wheat varieties Punjab-11, PK-13, Glaxy-13, Ujala-15, Gold-16, Johar-16, Anaaj-17, and Gandum-1 grown under saline (S1=10 dSm-1) and non-saline (S0=0.4 dSm-1) hydroponic culture of half strength Hoagland solution. A treatment without any foliar application to all wheat varieties was kept as control in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Before the initiation of booting stage, plants were harvested and the evaluation was done on the basis of various morphological (root/shoot length, root/shoot fresh weight, root/shoot dry weight, root-shoot (weight) ratio, membrane stability index and biochemical parameters (sodium, potassium and chlorophyll contents in leaf). It is confirmed that the foliar application of amino acids significantly enhanced the salt tolerance in wheat. The wheat variety Pk-13 has been selected as salinity tolerant genotype because it has obtained the maximum shoot dry weight with higher Na+/k+ ratio as compared to Anaaj-17 which was classified as salt sensitive genotype because of attaining the minimum shoot dry weight and lowest Na+/k+ ratio.

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF030204