The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of salinity stress on physiological and biochemical traits of brassica cultivars. For this purpose, salt stress was imposed by irrigating with saline water at four levels of salinity (control, 4, 8, 12 dSm-1, respectively) with four cultivars (Hayola401, Hayola420, RGS and Sarighol). Leaf area index, height, relative water content, biomass, seed yield, chlorophyll a and b, proline and ions content were measured. Salinity stress significantly decreased relative water content, leaf area index, chlorophyll a and b, K+, K+/Na+ ratio, height, biomass and seed yield and increased Na+ and proline content in all cultivars. Sarighol and Hayola420 had the highest and the least seed yield and were saline sensitive and tolerant cultivars respectively. Their differences were only in relative water content and leaf area index. Saline tolerant had a higher relative water content and lower leaf area index compared with Sarigol. The results suggest that brassica cultivars with low leaf area index are suitable for cultivating under saline condition.
Effect of compost and inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality of tomato was investigated in field experiment carried out on silt loam soil at Nuclear Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar during summer 2016. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications and seven (7) treatments. N, P and K fertilizers at 180, 100 and 60 kg ha-1 respectively were applied with or without compost, while compost was applied at 20 tons ha-1. The sources of N, P and K were urea, triple super phosphate and muriate of potash. The results of the study showed that yield and quality parameters of tomato fruit were significantly affected by the combined use of compost and inorganic fertilizers. Maximum tomato fruit and dry matter yields, fruit density, number of fruit kg-1, N, P and K uptake by tomato plant were obtained from treatment where full dose of N, P and K with10 tons of compost were applied. Maximum vitamin C content in tomato fruit was observed where full doses of compost and mineral fertilizers were applied. Soil organic matter and N, P, K contents were improved where full doses of mineral fertilizers with full dose of compost were applied. It is concluded that combination of plant residue compost and mineral fertilizers significantly improved the yield, quality of tomato fruit and sustained soil fertility status.
