In calcareous soils, wheat productivity is much lower due to improper nutrient management, especially phosphorus (P). Therefore, this study was conducted to manage P availability from various organic (Control, FYM and Sugar cane straw applied at the rate of 10 ton ha⁻¹) and inorganic (Control, 100% rock phosphate (RP), 50% acidulated RP, 100% acidulated RP, single super phosphate (SSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)) sources applied at the rate of 90 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ in calcareous soil while using wheat as test crop. When averaged across the organic sources, SSP performed better in emergence m⁻² (126), tillers m⁻² (431), spikes m⁻² (419), grains spikes⁻¹ (61), plant height (95.1 cm), 1000-GW (40 g), biological yield (11,023 kg ha⁻¹), grain yield (4022 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus use efficiency (10.5%), phosphorus in leaves at tillering (2.63 mg kg⁻¹) and anthesis stage (2.50 mg kg⁻¹), soil P at heading (1.73 mg kg⁻¹) and post-harvest stage (1.56 mg kg⁻¹) compared to the rest of the mineral sources. Similarly, among the organic sources, FYM performed better than others for all tested traits. Integration of inorganic P sources with organic manures further improved crop performance and post-harvest soil P content. Therefore, using 10 tons FYM ha⁻¹ in integration to SSP or 100% acidulated RP at the rate of 90 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ is recommended for ensuring optimum wheat productivity under calcareous soils.

Continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deplete soil fertility and reduce crop productivity as well as zinc (Zn) concentrations in rice grains and straw. Low Zn concentrations in rice grains have a negative impact on human health, while low Zn concertation in rice straw creates a nutritional problem for animals. The current high yielding rice varieties and hybrids remove large quantities of Zn from the soils, lowering the residual concentrations of soil Zn for the subsequent crop (e.g., wheat). Field experiments were conducted on farmers field in Malakand with the objective to evaluate the impact of various combinations of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha⁻¹) and Zn levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 kg ha⁻¹) on biofortification of Zn in grains and straw of rice genotypes [fine (Bamati-385) vs. coarse (Fakhre-e-Malakand and Pukhraj)]. The results revealed that Zn biofortification in rice genotypes increased with the integrated use of both nutrients (P + Zn) when applied at higher rates (80 and 120 kg P ha⁻¹, and 10 and 15 kg Zn ha⁻¹, respectively). The biofortification of Zn in both grains and straw was higher in the coarse than fine rice genotypes (Pukhraj > Fakhre-e-Malakand > Basmati-385). It was concluded from this study that the application of higher P and Zn levels increased Zn contents in rice parts (grains and straw) under the rice-wheat system. We also concluded from this study that Zn concentrations in rice grains and straw are influenced by plant genetic factors and Zn management practices.

Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major yield limiting factor across the globe and their proper management plays a vital role in optimizing crop yield. This field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of soil and plant nitrogen N and P ratio on the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in alkaline calcareous soil. The study consisted of various levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80, and 160 kg ha−1 as urea) and phosphorus (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 as diammonium phosphate), and was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement having three replications. The result showed that the addition of 160 kg N ha−1 significantly improved biological yield (10,052 kg ha−1), grain weight (3120 kg ha−1), chlorophyll content at tillering stage soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value (35.38), N uptake in straw (33.42 kg ha−1), and K uptake in straw (192 kg ha−1) compared to other N levels. In case of P, 90 kg P2O5 ha−1 had resulted maximum biological yield (9852 kg ha−1), grain yield (3663 kg ha−1), chlorophyll content at tillering stage (SPAD value 34.36), P (6.68 mg kg−1) and K (171 kg ha−1) uptake in straw. The sole use of N and P have positively influenced the biological and grain yield but their interaction didn’t response to biological yield. The present study reveals that SPAD value (chlorophyll meter) is the better choice for determining plant N and P concentrations to estimate the yield potential.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of calcium (Ca), Boron (B) and their combination, i.e., 0, (0.03%Ca), (0.06%Ca), (0.02%B), (0.04%B), (0.03%Ca) + (0.02%B), (0.03%Ca) + (0.04%B), (0.06%Ca) + (0.02%B) and (0.06%Ca) + (0.04% B) on production and quality of autumn potato crop. Results revealed that different sowing dates, Ca, B treatments and their interaction significantly affected yield and quality parameters of potato crop. The application of Ca alone @ 0.06% significantly increased the large tubers plant⁻¹ (2.0), total yield (18.6 t ha⁻¹), survival (78%), dry matter content (18.3%) and starch content (14.6%) as compared to control treatment. Boron @ 0.04% also significantly enhanced large tubers plant⁻¹ (2.1), total yield (18.7 t ha⁻¹), survival (75%), dry matter content (18.2%) and starch content (14.9%) than control treatment. Foliar application of (0.06% Ca) + (0.02% B) resulted in the maximum number of large tubers plant⁻¹ (2.5), total yield (20.5 t ha⁻¹), dry matter content (19.5%) and starch content (16.2%) as compared to other treatment combination. Plant survival was maximum at (0.06% Ca) + (0.04% B). Increasing Ca, B concentration decreased in number of small size tubers plant⁻¹. Early sown potato plants with the combined application of 0.06% Ca + 0.02% B resulted in maximum yield and quality characteristics as compared to the rest. So it is concluded that early planting in the first week of October with the combined application of 0.06% Ca + 0.02% B resulted in maximum yield and quality of potato.

Under the rice–wheat cropping system (RWS), the continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deplete soil fertility, and reduce crop growth and total rice biomass. In RWS, both phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are considered important nutritional constraints for reducing rice crop growth rates (CGR) and total biomass/biological yield (BY). The objective of this experiment was to investigate the impact of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P ha⁻¹) and zinc rates (0, 5, 10, 15 kg Zn ha⁻¹) on CGR and BY of three rice genotypes [fine (Bamati-385) versus coarse (Fakhre-e-Malakand and Pukhraj)] in Northwestern Pakistan during summer 2011 (Y1) and 2012 (Y2). The results revealed that higher CGR at various growth stages and total BY was obtained with the integrated use of higher phosphorus (80 and 120 kg P ha⁻¹) and zinc rates (10 and 15 kg Zn ha⁻¹). The lower CGR and BY were recorded when P and Zn were not applied (control) or when P and Zn were applied alone. In the case of rice genotypes, the highest CGR and BY were recorded for the hybrid rice (Pukhraj) than the other two genotypes. The CGR was increased to the highest level at the heading stage as compared to tillering and physiological maturity. The increase in CGR had a positive impact on the total BY of rice cultivars. The increase in BY had a positive relationship with grain yield and grower’s income. It was concluded from the study that the combined application of higher P and Zn rates to the coarse rice genotypes (Fakhre-e-Malakand and Pukhraj) could increase CGR, total BY, crop productivity and profitability.