Author(s)

Alvina Faraz^1*, Mukhtar Ahmad^1*, Nadir Ali¹, Mansoor Ali², Usama Ashiq¹, Saif Ullah¹, Muhammad Asim¹, Abdul Rehman¹  

Affiliation(s)

¹Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan.

²Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22620 Pakistan.

Corresponding Author

Alvina Faraz, Mukhtar Ahmad

ABSTRACT

Crop production in such areas is challenged by water limitation, high rates of carbon footprint and declining soil nutrient status. In Pakistan’s rainfed areas, conventional monocultures such as wheat-fallow sequences diminish soil health and yield. The wheat-groundnut cropping system is suggested as a better practice for better soil physical attributes, yield and conservation. But its water-saving, carbon footprint, and nutritional profiles have not been critically scrutinised. The main objectives of this research are three fold: To increase agronomic efficiency of water in the wheat-groundnut system, to reduce carbon emissions per unit of yield, and to increase the nutritive value of grains. An experimental field trial of two years duration was carried out on University Research Farm, Koont, Pakistan using RCBD with eight treatments. The treatments were optimized nutrient management and biofertilizers, mulching and integrated nutrient management which was used on the wheat and groundnut crops. Variance in WUE, carbon footprint, yield, status of the soil and protein content was also taken. The analysis revealed that the values of WUE under T8, were higher (3·6 ± 0·10 kg/ha·mm) and carbon emissions (CO? eq/ha) were lower (1250 ± 18.5) as compared to the T1 which had WUE of (1·5 ± 0·10) kg/ha·mm and carbon footprint of 1123·3 ± 15· T8 also produced the highest yields of both wheat (4100 ± 55.0 kg/ha) and groundnut (3500 ± 95.0 kg/ha) and slightly higher protein levels in the two crops. Mean values of all treatments were compared and the results indicated that T8 was significantly (p < 0.05) better than other treatments in terms of total efficiency and sustainability. This study aims at filling this gap by providing solution oriented information on development of climate resilient cropping systems for semi-arid regions in improving water use efficiency and reducing negative impacts of land and water use of rainfed cropping systems while enhancing productivity.

KEYWORDS

Carbon footprint; Cropping systems; Nutrient management; Soil health; Water use efficiency

CITE THIS PAPER

Alvina Faraz, Mukhtar Ahmad, Nadir Ali, Mansoor Ali, Muhammad Asim, Usama Ashiq. Impact of water use efficiency, carbon footprint, productivity and nutritional quality of wheat-groundnut cropping system. World Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. 2025, 3(1): 14-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/wjafs3017.

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