The knowledge of heritability helps the plant breeder to understand the performance of an attribute under consideration in next generation. Fourteen genotypes including one local check were assessed at the experimental farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar during spring 2016. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences (P≤0.01) for days to anthesis, days to silking, plant height, ear height, cob length, kernel rows cob-1 and 100-kernel weight, whereas grain yield revealed nonsignificant differences (P>0.05) among the genotypes evaluated. Genotypes, PSCV-9, PSCV-11, PSCV-13 and Azam as a check showed minimum days to anthesis (77.33), while minimum days to silking (79.33) were exhibited by Azam as a check. Genotype, PSCV-8 showed minimum plant height (107.13 cm) and ear height (41.73 cm), while maximum plant height (147.33 cm) and ear height (70.86 cm) was observed for PSCV-12. Genotype, PSCV-8 showed minimum ear length (17.28 cm), while maximum ear length (22.47 cm) was observed for PSCV-4. Minimum number of kernel rows cob-1 (12.33) were observed for PSCV-8, while maximum number of kernel rows cob-1 (15.33) were observed for PSCV-4. Minimum 100-kernel weight (28 g) was observed for PSCV-5 and Azam as a check, while maximum 100-kernel weight (38 g) was observed for PSCV-3. Low to moderate broad sense heritability estimates were observed for all the traits except for days to anthesis and days to silking which showed high to moderate heritability estimates. The present study revealed considerable amount of diversity among open pollinated maize varieties which could be utilized for further improvement in maize breeding.

several agro-based industries. It belongs to the cereal crop family which require an adequate amount of essential nutrients due to its ability high growth rate and producing large biomass yield [2]. The nature of Pakistani soils comes in category of alkaline calcareous soils in which maize crops suffer from nitrogen

Citrus waste having acidic reaction may have additional advantage over other organic residues as compost materials in alkaline calcareous soil but the process of its composting is very slow. In this study an attempt was made to access the release of P from RP added citrus waste during 180 of incubation and its effect on pH and EC of the composting media. Citrus waste consisting pulp, fruits skin and juice with total net weight of 500 g (fresh) were added with 0, 15, 30 and 60 g of RP (equivalent to 0, 3, 6 and 12%, respectively) and were incubated in oven at 36°C ± 2 for 180 days. All pots were also added with 20 mL water and 20 g FYM to optimize the moisture level and augment the microbial decay in pots. Results showed that RP mixed citrus waste had higher pH, EC and more water-soluble P as compared to non-treated citrus waste (control) at all incubation intervals of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 d suggesting releases of salts and P from RP. These values of pH, EC and water-soluble P increased with increase in RP levels and passage of time which could be associated to neutralization of RP with organic acids of citrus and CO 2 mineralization with time. It is concluded that addition of RP not only enhanced the quality of compost but could also promote the citrus waste decomposition process. Though the higher RP levels was best in our results, but other levels and their consequent effect on soil and crop yields should be assessed along with their environmental risks for wider and long-term recommendations.

No abstract