Author/Authors :
AHMAD, Shakeel Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , ALI, Hakoomat Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , FAROOQ, Umair Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , KHAN, Shahzad Usman Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , REHMAN, Atique-ur Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , SARWAR, Naeem Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , SHAHZAD, Ahmad Naeem Bahauddine Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , DOĞAN, Hülya Bozok University - Vocational School - Department of Seed Science, Turkey , HUSSAIN, Shabbir Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , SULTAN, Muhammad Tauseef Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , WAHEED, Abdul Bahauddin Zakariya University - Department of Agronomy, Pakistan , ZIA-UL-HAQ, Muhammad Patent Office Karachi, Pakistan , HUSSAIN, Khadim Maize Millet Research Institute, Pakistan , KHAN, Muhammad Azam Executive District Office - Agriculture, Pakistan
Abstract :
Increasing resource-use efficiency is of prime importance in sustainable agriculture. A field study was carried out to improve nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) of three C4 summer cereals, i.e. maize, millet, and sorghum, under an irrigated arid environment. The results showed that among various cultivars of cereals, cultivars Pearl (maize), 18 BY (millet), and Jumbo (sorghum) produced the highest aboveground total dry matters and grain yields. The highest NUE and RUE were obtained by splitting the nitrogen dose 3 times, i.e. at sowing and at first and second irrigation. The NUE for maize, millet, and sorghum varied from 30.97 to 32.97, 21.34 to 23.32, and 17.39 to 20.22 kg kg^–1, respectively. RUE ranged from 1.14 to 1.47, 0.85 to 1.08, and 0.91 to 1.13 g MJ^–1 for maize, millet, and sorghum crops, respectively. Maximum resource-use efficiency was achieved by 3 splits, while the minimum was obtained in the control group. It is inferred from this study that those varieties of C4 summer cereals may be commercially grown that are more efficient in utilizing the available resources for harnessing greater NUE as well as RUE under an irrigated arid environment.
Keywords :
Maize , millet , nitrogen management , resource , use efficiency , sorghum
