M illions of people in the world feeding on cereals like wheat and rice (FAO, 2012). After wheat, rice is utmost imperative essential crop of Pakistan. It contributes approximately 0.6 percent in GDP. During 2018-2019 rice was sown on 2810 thousand hectares with production of 7202 thousand tons (Pakistan Economic Survey, 2018-2019). World's population increasing day by day, therefore, food need is also increasing, while the natural resources are same (United Nations, 2012). Malnutrition is a very popular issue of poor communities and due to reduced bioavailability, micronutrients deficiency is also becoming serious issue (Huang et al., 2002). In the soils of Zinc (Zn) deficient areas, Zn deficiency Abstract | Zinc (Zn) is an important microelement not only for animals, plants but for humans as well. Its importance cannot ignore for the plants to improve overall quality and yield. The overall physiology, quality and biochemical parameters also enhanced with optimum application of Zn. By keeping in mind, the facts, it was hypothesized that the use of ZnO (a cheap source of Zn) impregnated urea for rice may enhance grains (paddy) yield. Three types of urea were prepared including Zn coated, bio-activated Zn coated and Zn blended urea at the 1.5% rate of formulate. The bio-activated Zn coated urea was prepared by inoculating the powdered organic material with Zinc solubilizing bacterium and then this material was mixed with ZnO. This bio-active Zn was coated on urea at 1.5% rates to formulate. Moreover, Zn blended urea was prepared by mixing powder ZnO with urea. The comparative efficacies of different types of Zn impregnated urea were compared with ZnSO 4 to grains yield, physiology and biochemistry of rice under field conditions. The results showed that 1.5% bio-activated Zn (ZnO) coated urea performed better in promoting yield and biochemical parameters. About 15 to 20% increase was observed in yield physical, biochemical and quality parameters. This suggests that the application of bio-activated Zn coated urea @ 1.5% is greatly active in enhancing quality and yield of rice crop.

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This study was conducted in a rice-based cropping scheme to investigate the impact of green manuring on soil health, considering soil physicochemical properties and sustainable crop production. A field experiment was started on 2 November 2015 and completed on 15 April 2018 under a rice–berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) cropping system in calcareous soil. Two green manuring patterns, rice–berseem and rice–wheat–sesbania (rostrata), were compared with a commonly practiced rice–wheat (Oryza sativa-Triticumaestivum) cropping pattern. Green manuring of the berseem crop (last cutting) along with 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended fertilizer doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) were compared with recommended NPK fertilization along with control (no fertilizer). The plant growth parameters of rice, including plant height, tillers per plant at maturity, and yield data, were recorded at harvest. The pre-sowing soil analysis revealed that the experimental soil was low in salts, and the nutrient (NPK) status was very low. The results indicated that green manuring substantially enhanced the grain and straw yield of rice crops. Green manuring combined with 75% of recommended NPK produced the highest grain yield (5.83 t ha−1 in year III) compared to the other treatments. The soil analysis showed that the bulk density was reduced while soil porosity, organic carbon, and N, K, and P contents were significantly improved. From the results of this study, it is recommended that under calcareous soil conditions, the regular use of green manuring can significantly improve crop growth, yield, and physicochemical properties of soil and, therefore, should be adopted by farmers.

Burning of crop residues in semi-arid region with hot climate and less than 1 % soil organic matter not only pose severe threat to global climate but also become the reason of ever decreasing organic matter status. Keeping in view the objective to monitor the impacts of crop resides, burning and incorporation into the soil on crop yield, nutrients uptake and soil physico-chemical properties, this long-term study was planned and conducted at Soil Chemistry Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad. Four treatments (sub plots) viz; 0 fertilizer, 50% of recommended fertilizer, 75% of recommended fertilizer and 100% of recommended fertilizer were applied under split plot design repeated thrice with 3 major plots (methods of residues management) i. traditional practice by complete removing (C) whole crop biomass from field, ii. burnt (B) practice by burning the crop biomass in field after threshing and iii. Residue's (R) incorporation practice by rotavating the crop biomass into the soil. The selected field was sufficient in exchangeable K and available P but was deficient in organic matter contents. The results showed that in first year the wheat yield was maximum in T 4 (5.04 t ha -1 ) in complete removal plot followed by residues incorporated (4.43 t ha -1 ) and burnt plots (3.72 t ha -1 ) respectively. It was observed that yield in residues incorporated plots was declined in next year after that, an increasing trend was witnessed. Burning of residues caused decrease in yield up to 11 % as compared to complete removal and up to 17% than residues incorporation. Organic matter status of soil before start of experiment was 0.69 %. Mean organic matter contents in residues incorporated plots was increased up to 27% than complete removal and up to 32% than burnt plots. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were maximum in residues incorporated plots followed by complete removal and burnt plots, however potassium uptake was maximum in complete removal followed by residues incorporated and burnt plots. ECe of burnt plots was increased by 100 dS m -1 than complete removal and 200 dS m -1 than residues incorporated plots. Other physicochemical properties were not affected significantly.

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