The Productivity of Subsequent Wheat Enhanced with Residual Carbon Sources and Phosphorus under Improved Irrigation System

ABSTRACT

A two-year consecutive experiment was conducted at agriculture Research Institute Mingora Swat, Pakistan during Rabi 2016–17 and 2017–18 to study the residual effect of carbon sources on water use efficiency and subsequent wheat productivity. Carbon sources (peach leaf and rotten fruits on dry basis, compost of peach residues and biochar of these residues), Three P rates (P1 = 50, P2 = 75, and P3 = 100 kg P ha⁻¹) with two irrigation levels (225 and 175 mm) along with traditional planting with no irrigation, were used in the experiment. No carbon sources or phosphorus was applied to the wheat crop at any stage. The results clearly indicated that CS such as biochar with improved irrigation system of 225 mm could enhance the soil water availability in 0–100 cm during the key growth stages, as well as WUE and rainfall use efficiency were improved by 34% and 51% as compared with no irrigation, respectively. Maximum yield components were produced by compost while biological yield was increased with biochar amendments. It is concluded that irrigation volume of 225 mm produced higher grain yield when wheat was sown after the preceding crop treated with biochar and 75 kg P ha⁻¹. It is concluded that biochar with 225 mm irrigation level is a suitable treatment for efficient consumption of local rainfall and increase subsequent wheat productivity under the northern climatic scenario of Pakistan because it improves the Evapo Transpiration (WUE), Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) and reduces ET levels, thereby enhancing the grain yield, net profit, and food security.

KEYWORDS:

• Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
• irrigation system
• carbon sources
• phosphorus
• yield and yield components

Acknowledgments

This research work is part of PhD dissertation of Mr. Imran and partially supported by Climate change Centre (CCC) in the capacity of SDC (Swiss development cooperation scholarship) and Inter-cooperation Pakistan (IC) awardee, the University of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan.

The author also thanked ARI staff members for their technical support and provision of farm inputs and research site allocation.