PESHAWAR
A recent study conducted by Dr Shah Khalid of Agriculture University Peshawar has revealed that despite cultivation of wheat on a huge area in Pakistan the obtainable yield was not only less than the potential production but also have micronutrient deficiency.
Dr Shah Khalid said that the low yield and quality of the wheat crops are attributed to various factors including improper fertilization, salinity, less availability of organic matter and others that bring nutrients deficiency particularly micronutrients and create serious risks for human and animal health especially in developing countries like Pakistan.
The scholar who had successful completed his Ph.D in the “ Enhancing Wheat Productivity and Zinc Biofortification through Zinc, Compost and Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria” concluded that use of zinc solubilizing bacteria increases wheat growth, yield and nutrients uptake thus is recommended for production of higher quality wheat.
He found that poultry manure compost along with zinc solubilizing bacteria is recommended for enhanced wheat productivity and soil fertility.
Dr Shah Khalid said that being basic food crop wheat is grown on about 225 million hectares worldwide and its trade is projected to be worth $50 billion globally and consumed in low and middle-income countries around the world as a rich source of proteins and as a high source of calories.
Referring to FAO, he said that wheat production in the world in 2021 was 794 million tonnes, making it the second most-produced cereal crop after maize.
He said that wheat crops cover 9168 thousand hectares in Pakistan, producing 27.464 million tonnes with an average yield of 2996 kg ha-1, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is producing 1361.5 thousand tonnes of wheat annually.
He deplored that although wheat is covering large acreage in Pakistan, but the obtainable yield is very less than the potential yield and also have micronutrient deficiency, adding that chronic inadequate Zinc (Zn) intake particularly from cereal-based diets is the major cause of Zn malnutrition, and biofortification in the developing countries.
He said Zn deficiency affects plant growth and crop yields and badly affects the quality of protein contents in grain, adding that Zn plays a significant role in plants growth and its deficiency in plants seriously affects various vital processes occurring within plants.
Dr Khalid concluded that poultry manure compost along with Zinc solubilizing bacteria is recommended for higher wheat productivity, soil fertility and for obtaining higher productivity and profitability of wheat crop under the Agro-climatic, condition of Peshawar.
