ORALS

Pakistan’s agriculture is facing numerous climatic issues including salinity, health hazards of soil and pollution. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers quick in action but reduce soil fertility and soil health. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a very economical to nitrogen fertilizer in organic agriculture. By cereal legumes intercropping, we can obtain the advantage of BNF through legumes. To compare the biological nitrogen fixation by two legumes i.e. Gram (Cicer aretinum) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) in wheat (Triticum aestivum), an experiment was launched during 2018-19. The study consisted of two wheat based inter-cropping with legume i.e. wheat-gram and wheat-lentil in 1-row, 2-row and 3-row strips including sole cropping of all component crops. The results revealed that grain yield, number of grains and seed weight were significantly increased by both inter cropping system over sole cropping of each. However, number of tillers per plant registered maximum in wheat-lentil 1-row strip over other treatments. Land equipment ratio was fairly high in all inter-cropping treatments but the highest LER was recorded for wheat + lentil 3-rows inter-cropping treatment. The soil analysis done before and after harvesting the crop, showed a favorable impact on increasing the percentage of organic matter and nitrogen in the soil. So it is concluded from this research that organic agriculture system in D. I. Khan must rely on BNF for eco-friendly conditions in changing climate scenario. The process of BNF offered an economically attractive sound means of reducing synthetic fertilizer and improved the health of soil as in our case of all treatments. In addition to BNF, it enhanced the micro-flora and micro-fauna activities in the soil which induced the soil fertility.