Assessment of production potential of sisal (Agave sisalana) under three watering conditions in Pakistan
Paper Details
Assessment of production potential of sisal (Agave sisalana) under three watering conditions in Pakistan
Abstract
Pakistan is a leading cotton producer and provides cotton fiber as only source of thread for the countrymen as well as an export commodity for earning foreign exchange. Extreme biotic and abiotic stress conditions particularly under climate and edaphic changes are hindering the profitable cultivation and harvesting of thread from cotton. To cope with these challenges, alternate means of producing fiber can be an attractive approach through which utilities of thread other than consumption in textiles mills can be fulfilled. Keeping in view the importance of natural fiber, present study was planned to check the adaptability of sisal as an alternate fiber crop that may be grown aside cotton. Sisal was grown under three watering levels at Directorate of Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Findings envisaged that plant growth was slow due to its perennial nature. Significant differences were observed in all growth and phonological parameters under all the watering conditions. In addition, plants propagated through suckers were found to be quick in growth as compared to those established from bulbils. Results depicted that 10 irrigations of 2-3 acre inches per annum, increased plant height, number of leaves per plants, days to first leaf emergence, days to 1st fully expanded leaf, days to 2nd leaf emergence followed by sisal plants applied with 5 irrigations in terms of respective growth and phonological traits. So, it could be recommended that sisal is a potential alternate fiber crop that utilizes less irrigation water and could be a better textile crop.
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Muhammad Iftikhar, Hassan Munir Bajwa, Muhammad Shahzad, Sobia Shahzad, Abdul Manan, Jawad Hussain, Hafiz Amjad Ali Rana, 2018. Assessment of production potential of sisal (Agave sisalana) under three watering conditions in Pakistan. Int. J. Biosci., 13(2), 228-233.
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