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.

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.

A research study was established at the research farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during winter 2018–2019. Commercial biochars were given to the experimental site from 2014 to summer 2018 and received 0.95, 130 and 60 tons ha⁻¹ of biochar by various treatments viz., (Biochar₁) BC₁, (Biochar₂) BC₂, (Biochar₃) BC₃ and (Biochar₄) BC₄, respectively. This piece of work was conducted within the same study to find the long-term influence of biochar on the fertility of the soil, fixation of N₂, as well as the yie1d of chickpea under a mung–chickpea cropping system. A split plot arrangement was carried out by RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) to evaluate the study. Twenty-five kilograms of N ha⁻¹ were given as a starter dosage to every plot. Phosphorous and potassium were applied at two levels (half (45:30 kg ha⁻¹) and full (90:60 kg ha⁻¹) recommended doses) to each of the four biochar treatments. The chickpea crop parameters measured were the numbers and masses of the nodules, N₂ fixation and grain yield. Soil parameters recorded were Soil Organic Matter (SOM), total N and mineral N. The aforementioned soil parameters were recorded after harvesting. The results showed that nodulation in chickpea, grain yield and nutrient uptake were significantly enhanced by phosphorous and potassium mineral fertilizers. The application of biochar 95 tons ha⁻¹ significantly enhanced number of nodules i-e (122), however statistically similar response in terms of nodules number was also noted with treatment of 130 tons ha⁻¹. The results further revealed a significant difference in terms of organic matter (OM) (%) between the half and full mineral fertilizer treatments. With the application of 130 tons ha⁻¹ of biochar, the OM enhanced from 1.67% in the control treatment, to 2.59%. However, total and mineral nitrogen were not statistically enhanced by the mineral fertilizer treatment. With regard to biochar treatments, total and mineral N enhanced when compared with the control treatment. The highest total N of 0.082% and mineral nitrogen of 73 mg kg⁻¹ in the soil were recorded at 130 tons ha⁻¹ of biochar, while the lowest total N (0.049%) and mineral nitrogen (54 mg kg⁻¹) in the soil were recorded in the control treatment. The collaborative influence of mineral fertilizers and biochars was found to be generally non-significant for most of the soil and plant parameters. It could be concluded that the aforementioned parameters were greater for treatments receiving biochar at 95 tons or more per hectare over the last several years, and that the combination of lower doses of mineral fertilizers further improved the performance of biochar.

Using the water footprint (WF) approach to evaluate the water-use efficiency in agricultural production is crucial for assessing the sustainable use of water resources and mitigating water scarcity and pollution. This study calculated the blue, grey, green and total water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 and compared the water footprint values at the provincial and municipal scales. In addition, this study analyzed the spatial variation and drivers of the water footprint. The results show that the average water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 were 1.78 m³kg⁻¹ and 2.00 m³kg⁻¹, out of which the grey water footprint contributed the most, accounting for 55.19% and 49.85% of the total water footprint, respectively, while the blue water footprint contributed the least, accounting for only 17.44% and 18.68% of the total water footprint. At the provincial level, the water footprint of spring maize production in Northeast China was spatially clustered, with the lowest total water footprint in Heilongjiang Province and the highest total water footprint in Jilin Province. The spatial distribution difference of the spring maize unit yield was the fundamental factor explaining the difference in the water footprint. The precipitation, surface water resources, average temperature, effective irrigated area and the proportion of effective irrigated area also had impacts on the water footprint. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the distribution of spring maize production in Northeast China, formulating appropriate sustainable water resource management plans, improving water-use efficiency and realizing sustainable water resource management in Northeast China.

The maximum requirement of primary nutrients by hybrid maize crop deteriorate the fertility of soil, therefore farm yard manure (FYM) in combination with mineral zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) was selected for the increasing crop productivity, rehabilitate and sustain the precious soil. The research was carried out at the farm of The university of Agriculture Peshawar (UAP) during year 2019-20. To investigate the impact of mineral P from di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and Zn from zinc sulphate (ZnSO‌4) in combination with FYM on maize yield. The experiment was carried out in randomized completed block design (RCND) having eight different combinations of FYM, P and Zn were used excluding control. Spring hybrid variety of maize (CS- 200) was used as a test crop. Basal dosage of nitrogen (N) 120 and potassium (K) 60 kg ha-1 were also applied. Physio-chemical properties of soil and concentration of Zn, P and K in maize leaves at silking stage and post harvested stage were measured. The objectives of this study was to determine the impact of FYM, P and (Zn) alone and in combination on yield of maize and soil properties and to gives best combination of organic fertilizers with mineral. From this research it was concluded that the combine application mineral P and Zn with FYM have linearly influenced the thousand grains weight, grain and biological yield of hybrid maize (CS- 200). The combine used of P and FYM @ of 90 kg ha-1 and 10 ton ha-1 shows influential impact on 1000 grains weight and grain yield respectively. The soil organic matter and total N were significantly (p≤0.05) influenced by FYM applied alone, whereas the uptake of N, P and K by hybrid maize crop was found maximum in the plot where P in combination with FYM was added. Based on results the application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 applied with 90 kg P ha-1 have the potential to improve maize yield as well as soil fertility and physical condition, also enhance the plant nutrient uptake and yield of hybrid maize, while the concentration of zinc in soil and plant were also greatly affected by the applied treatment. It show antagonistic effect with P and its concentration become linearly decreased with the increase in P rates, while the maximum Zn concentration was showed by the sole application of zinc fertilizer.