Impact of Different Potassium (K) Application on Oil Content of Brassica under Field Condition

Pakistan is confronting a chronic scarcity of domestic edible oil requirements and Brassica, a second largest contributor after cottonseed to the indigenous edible oil production, can play a vital role in saving the huge amount of hard earned foreign exchange of Pakistan. One of the major issues with brassica oil seed production is the water requirement of the brassica crop. To address the problem, field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium and water stress levels on canola (Brassica napus) under field conditions. Seed weight (4.86 g), grain yield (2335.1 kg ha-1), biological yield (8398.7 kg ha-1) and harvest index (27.73 %) were recorded with increase in potassium level up to 120 kg ha-1 and with full irrigation. Maximum oil content (49.9%) were observed in the plants treated with full irrigation of 120 kg K ha-1. Keywords: Brassica, Potassium,Oil Content, Variety, Irrigation, Water Stress, Biological Yield, Hravest Index

Effect of water deficiency and potassium application on plant growth, osmolytes and grain yield of Brassica napus cultivars

One of the major issues with brassica oil seed production is the water requirement of the brassica crop. To address the problem, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium (K) and water deficiency levels on canola (Brassica napus L.). Analysis of the data revealed that application of K, irrigation and interactions between irrigation and cultivar (I × C), irrigation and potassium (I × K), potassium and cultivar (K × C), and irrigation and cultivar and potassium (I × C × K) had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on shoot proline content, relative water content, plant fresh weight and grain yield. Potassium application, irrigation and interaction between I × C, K × C, and I × C × K had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on shoot sugar content. Water deficiency increased shoot proline and sugar contents and decreased relative water content. Potassium application increased shoot proline level in a dose dependent manner. Minimum proline and sugar contents and maximum relative water content, plant fresh and dry eight and yield were obtained when 100% irrigation was applied. Maximum grain yield was obtained upon application of 100% irrigation in combination with 120 kg ha–1 K

Groundwater Investigation by Using Resistivity Survey in Peshawar, Pakistan

Resistivity survey was conducted in Peshawar to investigate groundwater using Terrameter SAS 4000. Six sites were selected for the studies through feasibility survey to identify feasible points for conducting survey. Data collected was analyzed using 1X1D software which uses principal of conventional theory of curve matching. Resistivity values were compared with standard table of resistivity values of geological formations through which depths to water table was estimated, which were compared to the existing surrounding wells. These local results showed that shallow depths estimated for groundwater table were at Pakistan Forest Institute as saturated sand and gravel, for an average depth to water table of 23 m with respect to ground surface. In University Campus/Professor Colony, Biotechnology, Hayatabad Township site 1, and Site 2 the local groundwater level mostly in sand and gravel materials were at depths of 41 m, 37 m, 92 m and 82 m for different resistivity values. Study concludes that Instead of natural surface flow and seepage, there should be storage in the permeable zone or open dug wells within the planned storages for artificial recharge. Furthermore use of geophysical tools for groundwater investigation provides easy and quick approach as compared to conventional methods of groundwater investigations. Keywords: Groundwater. Resistivity survey. Terrameter SAS 4000. 1X1D software. Geophysical tools. Georefrencing

Over Exploitation of Groundwater Resources and Their Influence on Groundwater in Peshawar Valley

In this study the objective is to find the impact of the rainwater recharge on the ground water table fluctuations. For this purpose the data about different sources of discharge from the ground water as well as the sources of water recharged into the ground water was collected. The discharge of these Tube wells ranges from 1200 gallons per hour for a Tube-well in Pishtakhera Payan to 50625 gallons per hour from an Irrigation Tube well in Lakaray. It was also observed that both turbine and submersible pumps are used in these tube-wells. After summing up all the discharges from all the tube wells it was found to be 7,401,684 gallons per hour (7.78m3/sec). According to PDA report area of Peshawar is 1257 Km2. Since Depth of water per unit time is total discharge / total Area, therefore depth of water per second is 7.77 / (1257*1000^2) = 6.18 * 10-9 m/sec. Depth of water per year = 6.18 * 10-9 * 3600*12*365= 0.098 m /year= 98 mm / year. The average discharge of each commercial well was found to be 0.38 Liters / second. Since ttal number of union councils in Peshawar region are 92, therefore on average total number of commercial/community tube wells are 552. Taking average discharge for each tube well as 0.38 Liters / sec, total discharge from the commercial wells in Peshawar region will be 552*0.38=209.76 Liters per second which is equal to 0.2098 cubic meter per second. Discharge from commercial wells per year=0.2098*3600*4*365= 1102498.6 cubic meter per year.Total depth of water discharged by the commercial wells from the Peshawar region is Depth of water = 1102498.6 / 1169*1000^2=0.94mm/year.Assuming two hours operation of hand pump daily, total outflow of water from town-II is equal to 22873905.7 cubic meters per year. Total depth of water discharged from town-II using hand pumps was found to be equal to 52.28 mm per year.So total annual depth of water discharged out through hand pumps from three towns (II, III, and IV) is equal to 171.05 mm. Keywords: Rainwater, Recharge, Hand Pump, Tube well, Discharge, Total Dept

Assessment of Coefficient of Variation of Emitters Flow Rate with Respect to Design, Manufacturer and Plugging in Installed Drip Irrigation Systems at Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to design of manufacturer, hydraulics, grouping of the emitters, plugging, uniformity, efficiency, adequacy and estimated design discharge , measured Cv(H) values for all plots are less than 30%.  Hydraulic design seems to be only one of the minor factors in the evaluation of overall uniformity of a micro-irrigation system. Having the Cv(HM) variations are only about 0-7% except plot No.1 of Nowshera farm that is 24.16%, expressed by Cv. micro-irrigation system can be designed hydraulically to maintain emitter flow uniformity within 10% or 20% emitter flow variations. Grouping variation of emitters flow is 0-4% in Charsadda and Malakand Agency farm. In plot No.1 of Nowshera farm its 20.60% while in plot No.2 and 3 it is 0%. The group coefficient is affected by emitters flow rate that is uniform. In Charsadda and Malakand Agency farm the overall effect of hydraulic, manufacturer and grouping are 0-7.11% and 0-1.02% in plot No.3 and 2 of Nowshera farm, in plot No.1 it is 31.75%. Among all the factors affecting the uniformity, plugging is the most significant factor. The Cv(P) is 0% resulted from partial plugging. 5-10% plugging could produce Cv(P) of 23-33%. This system has no plugging, which implies that the system is performing excellent. Cv(HMP) was evidently affected most by hydraulic and manufacture variation. The overall Cv(HMP) is maximum in Charsadda plot No.2 is 16.1%  while in plot No.3 and 4 this range from 1.8 to 0.6%. In Malakand and Nowshera farm this overall variation give negative values due to more variation in the level of plugging and CV(HM). . Keywords: Coefficient of Variation, Emitters, Plugging, Uniformity, Drip Irrigatio

Performance Assessment of Existing Drips Irrigation Systems’ Parameters (Uniformity, Efficiency and Adequacy Degree Installed In Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to uniformity, efficiency, adequacy and estimated design discharge by Dadex were compared with physical need based CROPWAT software estimation were evaluated. The emission uniformity in Charsadda farm range from 99.1 to 99.7%. In Malakand Agency farm it range between 96.1 to 97.9% while in Nowshera it range from 86.1 to 100%. Statistical uniformity calculated in Charsadda farm range from 99.3-99.8%. In Malakand Agency it is between 96 –97.3% and 82.8 to 100% in Nowshera farm. Application efficiency of drip system in Charsadda farm is between 88 to 100%. In Malakand it ranges from 67 to 83% while in Nowshera farm it is from 36 to 62%. The storage efficiency is maximum (80.3%) in Malakand Agency farm and minimum in Nowshera farm (24.9%). Charsadda farm has 62.5% average storage efficiency. Adequacy of irrigation having full irrigation of 2.4cm which is he desired depth of application. The adequacy of irrigation for the field in figure 21 is 52.5 percent, since 52.5 percent of the field receives the desired depth of application or more. Keywords: Performance, Drip Irrigation, Application Efficiency, Uniformity, Statistical Uniformity, Coefficient of Global Variation

Regional Groundwater Flow Assessment in a Site Specific Portion of Peshawar Valley In Pakistan

A research study was conducted in selected sites of Peshawar for development of ground water mapping by utilization of Resistivity survey with the help of Terrameter SAS 1000/4000 along with 4 electrodes and other accessories for data collection, 20 sites were selected for data collection in various parts of Peshawar where data was collected with standard electrode array of Schlumburger array with 300 m spacing on each side of the instrument. Coordinates and elevation from mean sea level of each site were recorded with global positioning system (GPS).  Arc GIS was utilized for geo referenced map of the study area where the survey points were plotted. Another tool Surfer was utilized for contours development for ground water levels. The analysis of resistivity data were executed with the help of 1X1D software on the basis of which the ground water level were calculated which were also compared with existing water table of the area in surroundings and were in good match. The results indicate that the area has different pattern of ground water flow as the ground water in University Campus was toward Pakistan Forest Institute area as the elevation of ground water was at a depth of 339 m as compare to Works directorate of Agriculture University where the elevation was 334 m while in Malakandhir Farm the direction of flow was toward New Professor Colony Site where elevation of ground water was at a height of 319 m as compare to rest of profiles in the area  which elevation was 323 m with respect to mean sea level for Biotechnology profile 359 m from mean sea level for Veterinary hospital and 351 m for military profile. In Hayatabad the flow pattern was also different as the in Phase 3 the ground water flow was toward Phase 3 civil quarters with an elevation of 339 m form mean sea level which was lower than rest of the site in the area while in Phase 7 the ground water flow was toward Behram Market which was at an elevation of 335 m from mean sea level.  The study indicates that among all the surveyed sites the critical zone with low water table was Hayatabad where further detailed study of ground water exploration along with artificial recharge techniques were recommended to restore the depletion of water table. Keywords: Terrameter, Schlumberger Electrode Configuration, 1X1D, Ground water flow, Artificial Recharg

Assessment of Estimated Design Discharge with Physical Need Based Installed Drip Irrigation Systems in Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to design of manufacturer, hydraulics, plugging  were compared with physical need based CROPWAT software estimation were evaluated. The emitters discharge was collected at the beginning, 1/3 down, 2/3 down and end of each selected lateral by volumetric method. The soil texture and infiltration data was also determined for the efficiency and adequacy of drip irrigation system. The head loss along the laterals was determined for uniformity of the drip irrigation system. These collected values were averaged for each plot and water requirement was determined by using CROPWAT computer software. Results of the study revealed that the head loss in Malakand Agency (0.6 m) irrigation systems remained uniform while these are varying in Nowshera and Charsadda (0.4-1.5 m). Theoretical discharges are mostly less than actual discharges with a maximum of 55 % increase in Malakand Agency and a minimum at Charsadda with 3.3 % increase in actual discharge. Due to increased laterals length with more emitters per lateral gives fluctuation in discharge and pressure. Discharge variation was more due to low-pressure head in Nowshera. Keywords: Coefficient of variation, Design, Plugging, Head Loss, Theoretical Discharg

A Case Study on Water Storage Tank Design, Constrution, Operation and Assessment in District Kalat, Balochistan

Balochistan has been blessed with all types of ecological zones; the only limited factor is water. Also grow more food by each drop of water is the cry of the day. For this it is utmost important to take maximum discharge from already design structures. In Balochistan there is no irrigation at night and tubewell is operating full night whose discharge were wasted and Electricity load shedding problems are also there especially at day time. For this a storage tank is required which stores water for further utilization at day time irrigation hours. For the design of storage tank the tube well discharge ,its operating hours and other parameters were assessed. Discharge of tube well was determined by using trajectory method which was 10 lps. Ten hours were taken as operating hours The construction of the water storage tank involves different steps that are removal of vegetation from the design area, land leveling, materials selection which included water, cement, sand and gravel.. The recommended Tank dimension (Length X Width X Height of 17m X 17m X 1.37m) for scheme incorporated. Tank is backfilled with near by soil. The water stored during night is most beneficially utilized for 6 hr since morning for the command area at the tail of the water course instead of design discharge of tube well of 10 LPS (during day time) for the whole area which was not possible otherwise. Keywords: Storage Tank, Design, Construction, Discharge, Cost Benefit Rati

Characterization of Salinity and Sodicity Levels in Groundwater and Their Impact on the Yield of Banana (Musa Indicata) in District Lasbela

The study on characterization of different levels of salinity and sodicity was carried in district Lasbela during 2012-2013.The study area is situated between 24°-54 and 26°-37 north latitude and 64°-02 and 67°-28 east longitude. Lasbela’s geography and landscape is diverse and interesting. A total no 32 groundwater samples were collected from the study area. Water was characterized in accordance to the diagram for the classification of irrigation waters based on EC and SAR values. 94 % of the sites were falling in the high salinity class of C3 where as only 6% of the sites were falling in the C4 class. On the other hand, nearly 81% of the sites have SAR values below 10, which fall in the low category of sodicity S1. Hence only 19% of the sites have medium SAR. The percentage of the salts of the same site is higher when compared to its sodicity. The combined ECw-SAR classification of groundwater of 81% of the samples are in C3-S1 class followed by the respective classes of C4-S1 and C4-S2 at 13% and 6% of the groundwater analysed. Such water is classified as highly and very highly saline for irrigation. The average yield of banana in the whole area was 7447 kg/ha/year. ECw has no impact on yield of crops in the region. However a weak but general increase in salinity shows a bit increasing trend in yield while a minute increase in salinity shows a decreasing trend. Also SAR has no noimpact on yield of crops in the region. This might be because of use of such water that was entirely feasible particularly on light (sandy) soils. The present groundwater may be considerably better under many conditions that might be usable which be able to be successfully be applied to produce good yields of salt tolerant crops. Keywords: Lasbela, Groundwater Quality, Salinity, Sodicity, Yield, Banana, USDA