Technical and economic criteria in agricultural production: A case for a systems approach to farm decision-making in the Pakistan Punjab

This paper defines the criteria of ‘technical’ and ‘economic’ efficiencies. The relationship between these criteria is identified, and its implications are discussed. These two sets of criteria do diverge, with ramifications both at the farm and the national levels. An illustration of their relationship at the farm level is provided by examining the nature of water allocation to crops in the Punjab of Pakistan. The divergences that exist between ‘technical’ and ‘economic’ efficiencies at both farm and national levels are highlighted by considering the process of mechanisation in the Punjab in some detail. Finally, it is pointed out how a ‘systems approach’ can accomodate both the technical and economic criteria and their interaction.     

Mining and predictive characterization of resistance to leaf rust (Puccinia hordei Otth) using two subsets of barley genetic resources

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Sustainable barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production will require access to diverse ex-situ conserved collections to develop varieties with high yields and...     

干燥方式对萌动苦荞品质的影响

研究了热风干燥、微波干燥、挤压膨化干燥和真空冷冻干燥4种干燥方式对萌动苦荞色泽、多酚含量、总黄酮含量和复水率的影响。结果表明,在真空冷冻干燥条件下,萌动苦荞的麦芽颜色变化最小;热风70℃干燥时复水率最低;不同干燥方法对萌动苦荞中的黄酮含量均有影响,微波高火干燥样品中总黄酮的含量明显高于其他干燥方法。为萌动苦荞的深加工提供理论依据,具有一定的理论和实践价值。     

Molecular basis of Iron Biofortification in crop plants; A step towards sustainability

Iron is one of the most important micronutrients for crop plants due to its use in important physiological processes such as photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, metal homeostasis, and chlorophyll synthesis. Crop plants have adapted different strategies for uptake, transport, accumulation, and storage of iron in tissues and organs which later can be consumed by humans. Estimates indicate that about 2 billion people (33% of human population) are at risk of iron deficiency in which infants, children, and pregnant women are potentially compromised. Biofortification refers to the increase in concentration of micronutrients in edible parts of plants and understanding the pathways for iron accumulation in plants is necessary for breeding iron‐enriched crops. Iron‐biofortified crops are also one of the key factors in achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development goals. This review article covers different strategies of iron acquisition and transport in plants, its bioavailability, coping with the iron deficiency as a global perspective, the current status of iron biofortification, and how breeding future biofortified crops could be helpful in combating the said issue in a sustainable manner.     

Reclamation and salt leaching efficiency for tile drained saline‐sodic soil using marginal quality water for irrigating rice and wheat crops

Due to increased population and urbanization, freshwater demand for domestic purposes has increased resulting in a smaller proportion for irrigation of crops. We carried out a 3‐year field experiment in the Indus Plains of Pakistan on salt‐affected soil (EC_e 15·67–23·96 dS m⁻¹, pH_s 8·35–8·93, SAR 70–120, infiltration rate 0·72–0·78 cm h⁻¹, ρ _b 1·70–1·80 Mg m⁻³) having tile drainage in place. The 3‐year cropping sequence consisted of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in rotation. These crops were irrigated with groundwater having electrical conductivity (EC) 2·7 dS m⁻¹, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 8·0 (mmol L⁻¹)^1/2 and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) 1·3 mmol_c L⁻¹. Treatments were: (1) irrigation with brackish water without amendment (control); (2) Sesbania (Sesbania aculeata) green manure each year before rice (SM); (3) applied gypsum at 100 per cent soil gypsum requirement (SGR) and (4) applied gypsum as in treatment 3 plus sesbania green manure each year (GSM). A decrease in soil salinity and sodicity and favourable infiltration rate and bulk density over pre‐experiment levels are recorded. GSM resulted in the largest decrease in soil salinity and sodicity. There was a positive relationship between crop yield and economic benefits and improvement in soil physical and chemical properties. On the basis of six crops, the greatest net benefit was obtained from GSM. Based on this long‐term study, combined use of gypsum at 100 per cent soil gypsum requirement along with sesbania each year is recommended for soil amelioration and crop production. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.