| Decline in agriculture production due to salinity is one of the key problems in many areas around the globe including Pakistan. Around the globe approximately, 800-million-hectare area is salt affected and it is estimated that up to middle of 21 st century, 50 % of the arable land all over the world will be destroyed due to salinization problem. Use of canal water is the only strategy where saline and good quality waters are used in a cyclic manner for leaching down the salts that accumulated during irrigation with saline water. In this manner, salt accumulation does not rise beyond critical limit of the crop. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments replicated four times and randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to make layout. Treatments were; T1 = canal water, T2 = water of EC 2.0 dS m -1 , T3 = water of EC 3.0 dS m -1 and T4 = water of EC 4.0 dS m -1 . Maize was sown as test crop. Pre and post-harvest soil analysis was carried out for different physical and chemical characteristics. Soil samples were collected from all the plots and analyzed for different chemical properties like EC, pH, SAR, Cl, CO 3 , HCO 3 , Ca, Na, Mg, N, P and K. Results of the experiment revealed that use of saline water irrigation impaired different chemical properties of the soil and also had negative impact on fertility status of the soil. All the collected data were subjected to statistical analysis.

| Pakistani soils are deficient in organic matter. Organic matter in the soil affects soil properties and processes. The adequate carbon level of the soil is 1.29 % but in Pakistani soils carbon is less than the adequate level because of high temperature and low rainfall. Different sources of organic matters such as farm yard manure, poultry waste, rice husk etc. can increase productiveness of soil. Combined usage of poultry waste material and chemical fertilizer improved maize growth and health of soil. This experiment comprised of 11 treatments applied under completely randomized design like, T1 = chemical fertilizers at recommended rate, T2 = chemical fertilizers at half recommended rate, T3 = waste of poultry at the rate of 5 ton/ha, T4 = waste of poultry at the rate of 7.5 ton/ha, T5 = waste of poultry at the rate of 10 ton/ha, T6 = T1 + T3, T7 = T1 + T4, T8 = T1 + T5, T9 = T2 + T3, T10 = T2 + T4 and T11 = T2 + T5. At maturity and different agronomic and yield parameters were recorded before harvesting maize plants. Laboratory analysis for collected soil samples was carried out. Data were statistically analyzed. Results indicated that treatment (T8) produce maximum plant height (115.0 cm), biomass (64.34 g) and root length (27.083 cm) of maize. Organic matter content (1.78 %), phosphorus (16.67 ppm) and potassium (213.0 ppm) concentration in soil was also increased in this treatment.

| In Pakistan many soils out of total lands are occupied by sodic soils which in turn is upsetting farmer’s income and cause soil quality decline. This trial was led to appraise the toxic consequences of NaHCO3 on growth as well as rice yield parameters. Various levels of NaHCO3 or Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) were developed in the normal soil. This experiment comprised of 7 treatments that were repeated three times according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD). These treatments included; T1= Control, T2= 15 SAR, T3= 20 SAR, T4= 25 SAR, T5= 30 SAR, T6= 35 SAR and T7= 40 SAR. Subsequently NaHCO3 was added to the soil as per treatment plan and adequate time was allowed to accomplish chosen sodicity levels. Later on, rice nursery was transplanted in all the pots. Various agronomical operations were carried out as per crop requirement. At maturity, rice was harvested from all pots. Various yield contributing components like plant height, fertile tillers, total biomass, straw and paddy yield were noted for all pots of the experiment. Statistical analysis of all collected data was accomplished. It was noted from the results that control (T1) proved superior with regard to plant height, fertile tillers/pot, total biomass, straw and paddy yield. All these yield contributing components indicated a declining trend in all subsequent treatment. Treatment T7 (40 SAR) proved inferior to all others in these regards.

M. Z. MANZOOR, G. SARWAR, M. IBRAHIM, M. LUQMAN, S. GUL, and I. SHEHZAD Citation: Manzoor MZ, Sarwar G, Ibrahim M, Luqman M, Gul S, Shehzad I (2024). Heavy metals toxicity assessment in different textured soils having wastewater irrigation. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 56(2): 802-812. http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2024.56.2.31. Summary Farmers are using

| This study was performed to estimate the efficacy of organic substrates to release, solubilize and improve uptake of phosphorous using wheat as test crop. The research was steered through completely randomized design (CRD) with 14 treatments and 06 replications. Pre and post-harvest soil analysis was performed. The results showed maximum increase in nitrogen (N) (0.91 ppm) and potassium (K) contents (2.59 ppm) in wheat crop and maximum increase in all plant parameters were recorded in T 11 [T 2 + all P from PROM (phosphorus rich organic manure)] followed by T 13 (T 2 + all P from phosphocompost). In case of soil characteristics, application of recommended NPK from chemical fertilizer (T 2 ) recorded the highest pH (8.66) of soil, while the maximum EC (2.75 dS m -1 ) of soil was noted under the application of (T 13 ) (T 2 + all P from compost). Soil organic matter (0.90 %) was found to be maximum under T 5 (T 1 + all P from phosphocompost), while the treatments T 11 (T 2 + all P from PROM) and T 4 (T 1 + all P from FYM) noted the maximum levels of P (8.0 ppm) and K (3.45%) in soil, respectively. Conclusively, all the treatments significantly improved the soil characteristics and nutrient concentration of wheat plant compared to control (T 1 ). Use of phosphocompost proved very useful to enhance soil health and consequently nutritional characteristic of wheat crop.

| Deficiency of organic matter in Pakistani soils is well established fact. This deficiency of organic matter deteriorates soil physical properties and all related chemical processes in the soil. To overcome this issue, organic matter is added to these soils in so many forms like Farm Yard Manure (FYM), compost, green manure, rice husk and poultry manure. All these practices are favoured to enhance soil productivity level. Keeping in view the current scenario of country, this experiment was conducted. Experiment contained 11 treatments applied under completely randomized design (CRD) included, T1 = chemical fertilizers at recommended rate, T2 = chemical fertilizers at half recommended rate, T3 = poultry dung at the rate of 5 t ha-1, T4 = poultry dung at the rate of 7.5 t ha-1, T5 = poultry dung at the rate of 10 t ha-1, T6 = T1 + T3, T7 = T1 + T4, T8 = T1 + T5, T9 = T2 + T3, T10 = T2 + T4 and T11 = T2 + T5. Maize was grown as test crop to evaluate efficiency of these treatments. At maturity, plant samples of maize were collected from all pots. Laboratory analysis for collected plant samples was carried out. Data were statistically analyzed. Results indicated that treatment (T8) produce maximum nitrogen (3.27%), phosphorus (1.0%) and potassium (2.85%) concentration in shoots of maize plants. The same trend of improvement was noted for maximum nitrogen (3.16%), phosphorus (0.92%) and potassium (2.88%) concentration in roots of maize plants.