Besides carbon (C) sequestration, biochar (BC) is recently believed to deliver multiple eco-friendly benefits to the soil for enhancing crop productivity. Use of mineral fertilizers coupled with BC been suggested a promising sustainable strategy for increasing crops yield. However, imperative study is needed to investigate (1) BC integration with multiple legumes crop adjusted in summer gape for pooling more organic carbon and nitrogen, and (2) subsequently looking into its synergism with mineral N in the following crop. Therefore, two years’ field experiments were conducted on maize under cereal based cropping pattern with the adjustment of legumes (i.e., mungbean, cowpea, and Sesbania) with a fallow in summer. In legumes, treatments consist of (0 and 50 t ha⁻¹) BC application. However, N rates of 0, 90, 120, 150 kg ha⁻¹ were added to the subsequent maize crop. Preceding legumes plots with the use of 50 t ha⁻¹ biochar enhanced maize grain yield, above ground biomass, stover N, grain N, soil C, and N content after maize harvest and N use efficiency as compared to non-legumes with BC and legumes without BC plots. N application increased grain yield, above-ground biomass, stover N, grain N, and soil N but reduced N use efficiency with higher rates. Conclusively, the integration of biochar and legumes is a promising option for increasing the entire farm production of cereal-based cropping systems. This increment in yield was associated with supplying a viable input of N and C to soil and increased yields from this supplementary ‘summer gap’ crop.

Canola crop has the potential for both seeds and grazing. Optimal planting density, time of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application and rates are the major aspects for successful qualitative traits and canola yield formation. In this content, optimization of planting density, N levels and its time of application in dual purpose canola are needed. This study was carried out in RCB design with split pot arrangement having three repeats during winter 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. The study evaluated N levels (120 and 80 kg N ha⁻¹), cutting treatment, N application timings and planting density (20 and 40 plants m⁻²) effects on qualitative traits and yield of canola. No-cut treatment had 7.02%, 2.46%, and 4.26% higher, glucosinolates, oil, and protein content with 31.3% and 30.5% higher biological and grain yield respectively, compared with grazed canola. Compared with no-cut canola, grazed canola resulted in 7.74% of higher erucic acid. Further, application of N at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ had 8.81%, 5.52%, and 6.06% higher glucosinolates, percent protein, and seed yield, respectively than 80 kg N ha⁻¹. In-addition, the application of N into two splits was most beneficial than the rest application timings. Cutting had 15% reduction in grain yield of canola and fetched additional income of 143.6 USD compared with no-cut. Grazing resulted in a 23% reduction in grain yield while had additional income of 117.7 USD from fodder yield. Conclusively, the application of N in two splits at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ combined with 20 plants m⁻² is a promising strategy to achieve good qualitative attributes and canola yield under dual purpose system.

The use of organic fertilizers (biochar and FYM) is a possible solution to overcome the negative effects of chemical fertilizers and improve crop productivity and soil fertility on a long-term basis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the Integrated effect of biochar, FYM with nitrogen level for improving the yield and yield components of the maize crop. The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the summer of 2018. The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used, having three replications of each treatment. Biochar and FYM were applied at the rate of 15-ton ha-1, 10-ton ha-1, along with nitrogen at the rate of 75 and 150 kg ha-1. Results of the current study found the maximum grain yield 5461 kg ha-1, plant height 234 cm, number of grains ear-1 549, biological yield 14430 kg ha-1 and ear height (116 cm) was best at FYM, 100 % recommended fertilizer. Conclusively, the use of organic source farmyard manure, biochar, along with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, enhanced the plant growth and development of the maize crop. Further study is needed to investigate the long-term effects of these organic nutrient sources. Keywords: Biochar, FYM, Fertilizer, Maize, and Yield

Nitrogen is vital and primary nutrient for plant growth and major constituent of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants utilize sunlight energy to produce starch from water and carbon dioxide (i.e. photosynthesis), protein formation, and influences plant development. The research was conducted to assess the effect of nitrogen levels and tillage implements on the maize growth and yield at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2024. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement in four replications. The experiment was consisted of two-factors in which one factor was tillage implements. The tillage implements were operated in main plots i.e. Mouldboard plough as (Deep tillage, DT), field cultivator (Shallow tillage, FC) and Rotavator (minimum tillage, RT). The second factor was nitrogen levels in the sub plots i.e. the application of urea (120 and 180 kg ha-1) as well as farmyard manure (FYM) i.e. 12 and 18 tons ha-1 incorporated before sowing as well as control. Maize variety (Azam) was sowing on ridges in the month of July 2024. Based on experimental results DT increased numbers of leaves plant-1 (13), leaf area (476.4 cm2), plant height (203 cm), number of ears (6.1 m-2), grains ear-1 (349), thousand grain weight (256 g), biological yield (10429 kg ha-1) and grain yield (3518 kg ha-1) than the either FC or RT. High mineral nitrogen applied at the rate of 180 kg ha-1 delayed tasseling (55 days), silking (62 days), physiological maturity (113 days), increased numbers of leaves plant-1 (14 leaves), leaf area (492.1 cm2), plant height (212 cm), ear length (17 cm), number of rows ear-1 (14 rows), number of ears (6.5 m-2), grain ear-1 (390 grains), thousand grain weight (273 g), biological yield (11110 kg ha-1) and grain yield (3983 kg ha-1) as compared to control plot. From the results it was concluded that the deep tillage i.e. mould board plough and high mineral nitrogen (urea – N) application at rate of 180 kg ha-1 is suitable for increasing the grain yield and yield components of maize crop in experimental location.