Dr Naeem Sarwar1
1Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Multan, Pakistan
Biography:
Naeem Sarwar has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Agronomy since 2012. He has published over 60 research articles in peer-reviewed international and national journals, edited an international book and more than 10 book chapters, and worked as a reviewer in many well reputed journals. He has completed many research projects. According to google scholar, his publications have received 1310 citations with an h-index of 21. His research group is interested in managing plant nutrients for better use efficiency in cropping systems while reducing the carbon footprints.
Abstract:
Rice-wheat cropping system is established on large part of the Asian countries which needs lot of irrigation water. Wheat-maize cropping system is emerging as an alternative, which needs less water input. Due to this, field study was designed to see the impact of biochar application under various levels of soil moisture in wheat-maize cropping system. Both crops were grown consecutively along with full irrigation as well as with deficit irrigation (25%, 50%, 75%) with or without addition of biochar (5ton/ha). Crops were observed for dry matter distribution among various parts, yield and quality. Results revealed that deficit irrigation approach (25% deficit + Biochar) enabled crops to improve dry matter production and its translocation towards sink and performed similarly to full irrigation treatment. Overall, maize-wheat system productivity was maximum under ambient irrigation application while 25% water deficit was also not behind too much as there was very little difference was recorded among these treatments. While reducing irrigation more than 25% reduced the growth and yield of both crops and resulted in very less system productivity. It was also observed that missing irrigation or reducing irrigation up to 50% or 75% can’t be affordable even with biochar application. Application of biochar can save up to the 25% irrigation water by improving the soil moisture status for longer time which ultimately provided the better growing environment for both cereal crops. Farmers or the wheat-maize growers can include the biochar application in their input management system for sustainable crop production.