1997). Ferguson et al. (2002) found reduction in soil nitrate concentration due to variable rate fertilizer N High levels of residual soil NO3–N can contaminate ground water application in only 3 out of 12 site-years as compared by leaching through the soil. Our objective was to reduce the level and spatial variability of residual soil NO3–N while maintaining optiwith uniform N application. Mac...

The experiment was conducted on farmer’s field at District Lakki Marwat (NWFP) during Rabi (spring) 2007-08, in order to study the response of wheat to different soil treatments irrigated with poor quality irrigation water. The treatments including control, tillage, gypsum and sulphuric acid were applied before sowing of the wheat crop. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete bloc...

Application of large amounts of phosphorus fertilizers is used to enhance early plant growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This practice can lead to an accumulation of phosphorus in soil and a reduced copper uptake by plants which may result in a reduction of plastocyanin concentrations in chloroplasts. As a result, photosynthetic rates and crop yield can be adversely affected. Whi...

The “Old Rotation” experiment was initiated in 1966 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The overall objectives were to evaluate the influence of rotation length, fallow substitute crops, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on crop yields, grain protein, N and P uptake, moisture conservation, nutrient use efficiency, incidence of di...

Grain weight is the most important component of rice yield and is mainly determined by grain size, which is generally controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Although numerous QTLs that regulate grain weight have been identified, the genetic network that controls grain size remains unclear. Herein, we report the cloning and functional analysis of a dominant QTL, grain length and width 2 (...

Intensive use of N fertilizers in modern agriculture is motivated by the economic value of high grain yields and is generally perceived to sequester soil organic C by increasing the input of crop residues. This perception is at odds with a century of soil organic C data reported herein for the Morrow Plots, the world's oldest experimental site under continuous corn (Zea mays L.). After 40 to 50...

Increasing global atmospheric CO2 concentration has led to concerns regarding its potential effects on the terrestrial environment. Attempts to balance the atmospheric carbon (C) budget have met with a large shortfall in C accounting (μ1.4 3 1015 g C y–1) and this has led to the hypothesis that C is being stored in the soil of terrestrial ecosystems. This study examined the effects of CO2 enric...

Abstract One of the methods of increasing soil resistance against failure is soil reinforcement using geosynthetics. Soil-geosynthetic interactions are of great importance and are affected by friction and adhesion at their interface. Soil gradation, contact surface roughness and geotextile density are among the factors affecting soil-geotextiles interaction this study, to investigate the eff...

RoboClam is a burrowing technology inspired by Ensis directus, the Atlantic razor clam. Atlantic razor clams should only be strong enough to dig a few centimeters into the soil, yet they burrow to over 70 cm. The animal uses a clever trick to achieve this: by contracting its body, it agitates and locally fluidizes the soil, reducing the drag and energetic cost of burrowing. RoboClam technology,...