Crop yields remain significantly low in underdeveloped countries, such as Pakistan, primarily due to the prevalent use of traditional farming methods by most farmers. Resource-saving strategies, like ridge and raised flat bed systems, could boost water use efficiency and production per acre. However, further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of these methods, along with different levels of soil moisture depletion (SMD), on wheat development in the climatic conditions of Sindh Province. Thus, field trials were undertaken at Sindh Agriculture University’s Tandojam for two years (2022 and 2023) during the wheat growing seasons. The experiment included six treatments, viz., T1 (raised flat bed method under 40% depletion), T2 (ridge method under 40% depletion), T3 (raised flat bed method under 50% depletion), T4 (ridge method under 50% depletion), T5 (raised flat bed method under 60% depletion), and T6 (ridge method under 60% depletion). The bed planter was employed to make raised flat beds, and the ridges were prepared using a ridge planter. Wheat variety (TJ-83) was sown. Under all treatments, the plant population, plant height, and seed index were statistically significant (p < 0.05), although spike length, grain spikes⁻¹, and grain weight spikes⁻¹ were non-significant at different SMD levels. To compute water saving through the ridge and raised flat methods, the recommended delta value for wheat crops under the traditional method was used as a benchmark. Both irrigation technologies conserve water compared to traditional irrigation methods. The T5 treatment conserved the most water, followed by T6. Under a 60% depletion level, the ridge approach produced the highest yield of 2175 kg ha⁻¹, compared to 601 kg ha⁻¹ with the raised flat bed method. The best crop water productivity (CWP) of 1.34 kg m⁻³ was achieved under T6, whereas raised flat beds attained the lowest CWP of 0.27 kg m⁻³ under T1. In terms of wheat grain production and CWP, the ridge furrow method outperformed the raised flat bed furrow method. Based on the results, it is recommended that farmers should use the ridge furrow method and allow a 60% depletion of soil moisture to obtain a high yield of wheat crops.

In Baluchistan, the dependency on groundwater for agriculture is even more significant due to its arid and semi-arid climate. District Naseerabad of Baluchistan, Pakistan, is characterized by its unique geographical and climatic features. Baluchistanreceives scant and erratic rainfall, averaging less than 200 millimeters annually, which is insufficient to sustain agricultural activities. In these regions, the scarcity of rainfall and high evapotranspiration rates limit the availability of surface water, making groundwater the primary and sometimes the sole source of water for irrigation. The present study was conducted in District Naseerabad, Baluchistan, during the year 2023-24. There are 4 tahsils and 32 union councils (UCs) in the district of Naseerabad. There are notubewellsinstalled in the union councilswithout the union councilsof Chhatter, Karor, Phuleji, Shahpur,and Bundi. So the water samples were collected from these 5 union councils. The water samples were analyzed for EC, pH, Chloride, Calcium, Carbonate, Bicarbonate, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Sodium, Sulfate, and Potassium. TDS, SAR. SSP, PI, MAR,and KR indicators were determined for water suitability. The EC of water was under permissible limits in UC Bundi. The pH was within permissible limits in all UCs. TDS were within permissible limits in UC Chhatter and Bundi. Bicarbonate, Chloride, Sulfate, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, and Nitrate were within permissible limits in all UCs. Assessing the suitability of groundwater for irrigation involves evaluating several key indices that provide insight into the potential long-term impacts of using groundwater on soil health and crop productivity. The variations in SSP could be attributed to differences in geological formations, human activities, and agricultural practices across the union councils. For suitability analysis, SAR and SSP were within permissible limits in UC Chhatter and Bundi. High PI values indicate that the water is likely to enhance soil permeability, while low PI values suggest a risk of reduced permeability due to sodium-induced soil dispersion. PIswere within permissible limits in UC Karor, Phuleji, Shahpur,and Bundi. MAR was over the permissible limits in UC Bundi. High KR values signify an elevated sodium hazard, which can lead to soil sodicity and degradation. KR were within permissible limits in UC Chhatter and Bundi. High MAR values indicate a disproportionate amount of magnesium, which can lead to soil compaction and reduced aeration, hampering root development and nutrient uptake.

Grain quality maintenance and storage losses are a big challenge for the world. The losses and grain quality issues are attributed to the storage structures and conditions. Thus, there is a dire need to improve and evaluate the existing and newly developed structures. Keeping in view the necessity, this study was conducted to evaluate various storage structures to assess performance in preventing grain losses during storage. Six treatments, viz, EB (earthen bin), MB (metallic bin), ATFB (airtight ferrocementbin), FVFB (forced ventilated ferrocement bin), ATMB (airtight metallic bin),and FVMB (forced ventilated metallic bin) were replicated thrice in the randomized complete block design. The effect of storage periods with the interval of three months was also assessed. Six indicators were invoked to obtain the results, namely; stored grain temperature (°C), moisture content (%), germination (%), insect-pest infestation (%), weight loss due to insect infestation (%), aflatoxin level (μg kg-1). The results revealed that there is a significant association between storage structure, storage period, and grain quality. The traditional structures (EB and MB ) were observed to affect the tested quality parameter significantly (p> 0.05). While modern structures (ATFB, FVFB, ATMB, and FVMB) maintained the quality parameters within the permissiblelimit. However, an airtight ferrocement bin (ATFB) showed significantly better results among all treatments. Therefore, farmers are suggested to utilize airtight ferrocement bins to store and maintain wheat grain quality for various purposes.

The utilization of paddy straw can be improved by means of different physical, chemical and biological processes such as ensiling. Ensiling of paddy straw is difficult because of its low water soluble carbohydrate content and limited quantity of naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria that can ferment it, resulting in poor fermentation. The use of cane molasses, a sugar-rich additive, can improve the fermentation process, and increase quality of silage. So this study was performed to assess the effect of different cane molasses concentration (To = 0%, T1 = 5% and T2 = 10%) and storage structures (polythene bags and plastic containers) on the quality characteristics of paddy straw silage stored under ambient condition. The ensiled products were made by compacting the paddy straw in the storage structures and sealing them airtight after treating paddy straw with the respective molasses levels and then ensiling them for 40 days. After the ensiling period, the silage was analyzed for its physicochemical quality parameters. The ensiled material had pH, NDF, ADF and ash contents which were significantly lower than the original contents of fresh paddy straw. The lactic acid content, however, decreased following ensiling while the crude protein and dry matter contents increased. The 10% cane molasses (T2) had the highest lactic acid content, crude protein and dry matter content and the lowest pH, NDF, ADF and ash values among the treatments, which meant that it had the highest fermentation quality. Also, the plastic containers produced silages with higher crude protein, lactic acid and dry matter content, and lower pH, NDF, ADF and ash content compared to polythene bags. Overall, 10% cane molasses with plastic container storage turned out to be the best treatment used to yield good quality paddy straw silage in the ambient condition