Populus plants arefast-growing plants that exhibit strong adaptability and a short rotation period. Poplar enhanced the carbon stock, which ultimately helps in combating climate change and sustaining livelihoods. Pakistan has a shortage of firewood and timber. Thus, hybrid fast-growing plants are the only way to balance wood demand and supply in the country. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the growth patterns and carbon stocks of three Populus deltoides varieties in three soil media under nursery conditions. To achieve the study goals, three fast-growing hybrid species of Populus deltoides, Italian Populus (euramerciana), clone A-Y48, and local Populus were used. Three healthy plants of mothers aged one to two years were selected from the field area of the Rangeland Research Institute (RRI), NARC. The cuttings were planted in 90 pots after being filled with three different media, and plant growth was recorded after seven days for the number of leaves, height, diameter, and number of irrigations applied to each pot. Three-month data were collected and analyzed by using an RCBD design. After the trial, all the plants were exhausted, and soil samples were taken from the pots and brought to the RRI laboratory for the estimation of total biomass and carbon stocks. It was concluded that Clone AY-48 achieved the highest height among all the Populus deltoides varieties and stored more carbon stock in comparison to Italian and local poplar varieties. Farmyard manure had a positive influence on the height of the different Populus deltoides varieties. Clone AY-48 and Italian poplar plants are more suitable for rapidgrowth.
Research Article
Assessment of Three Fast Growing Populus Deltoides Species in Various Soil Profiles Under Nursery Conditions
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4479469/v1
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- Three fast-growing hybrid species of Populus deltoides, the Italian Populus (euramerciana), clone A-Y 48, and local Populus were selected for research.
- Three healthy mother plants one-year-old were selected and made soft cutting.
- Clone AY-48 achieved the highest height gained among others and had more carbon stock in comparison to Italian and Local poplar.
- Farmyard manure had a positive and significant influence on the height of different Populus deltoides AY-48.
- Clone AY-48 and Italian poplar are more suitable for fast growth.
There is a severe lack of firewood and timber in Pakistan. The domestic supply of wood is currently far insufficient compared to the overall demand. According to reports, there was a total demand for wood in 2009 of 43.7 million m3, of which 12 million m3 was used for fuel and 32 million m3 was used for timber. Only 14.4 million m3 of sustainable provisions (annual growth rate) were available. As a result, there was a 29.3 m3 gap between the supply and demand for wood. This was frequently met by transporting wood and timber products as well as overusing the already existing wood (FAO, 2009). It is predicted that by the year 2020, there will likely be a significant gap between the supply and demand for wood (PES, 2011). For a population of 170.5 million, the current calculated total annual wood consumption is 48.52 m3. With an increasing population, there will be an increase in wood use by 2015, 2020, and 2025, and the predicted wood utilization is predicted to reach 51.72, 55.64, and 59.44 million m3, respectively (Nazir et al., 2018). Major forest products such as firewood and timber are consumed at rates that significantly reduce Pakistan's wood supply and forestland. Due to the country's rising energy demand and growing population, people are consuming more of these two key products, and there are unlikely to be any replacements for wood shortly. To increase the contribution of biomass to renewable energy, the cultivation of fast-growing tree species has increased. In 2018, these plantations made up 2.5% of the world's total forest region (Cateau et al.,2018). Agroforestry systems based on poplars (Populus deltoides), which occupy 1.5 million ha, have gained widespread popularity throughout the world (Kutsokon et al., 2015). By planting poplar trees on marginal agricultural fields, the area is expected to multiply several times soon, meeting the fuel and timber requirements of developing nations (Kumar et al., 2023). While offering benefits for forests, it could minimize land use competition for biomass and food production (Pretzsch et al., 2017). The production of fast-growing tree biomass switches nonrenewable carbon resources and supports carbon absorption as well as other ecosystem amenities, including improving the value of soil and decreasing water erosion and improving biodiversity (Evangelou et al., 2012). Due to their numerous advantages, such as rapid growth, rapid harvesting, high productivity, and sustainable wood output, many fast-growing tree species have been planted in industrial plantations and community forestry (Adi et al., 2014).
In Pakistan, the exotic poplar (Populus deltoides) tree was first introduced in the late 1950s (Sheikh 1988). A significant tree species called Populus deltoides is extensively applied for afforestation worldwide (Borges et al., 2016). Poplar has gained widespread acceptability among Pakistani farmers over the past 20 years, particularly in Punjab, because of its quick growth rate, crop compatibility, and strong marketing demand. The local population uses the branches, leaves, and, occasionally, the roots of the tree as fuelwood, while the country's plywood manufacturers use the tree's wood. The rapid growth pattern and wide range of adaptability of these trees across the country give them a tremendous amount of potential to store carbon and sequester CO2 (Arora et al., 2014). Due to its many applications, market potential, and rapid rate of growth, it has become quite popular as a commercial timber tree. The majority of poplar trees used in industry are grown on farms, and only a very minor amount (approximately 0.029 million m3) comes from state-run irrigated plantations in Punjab (PES, 2011). The poplar-based agroforestry land use strategy has not only considerably increased the number of trees outside of natural forests but also shown potential for socioeconomic growth, ecological restoration, and agricultural diversification (Pretzsch et al., 2017). The creation of poplar woodlots, the growth of wood-based industries, the creation of jobs, and the collection of tax income for the government have had multiplier effects on the economies of rural areas (Dhiman et al., 2012). Populus has long been regarded as a major contender for bioenergy. The genus has a significant history of study on tree improvement, and vegetative propagation is rather simple. This permits the establishment of clonal Populus plantations suited for particular traits (Kline and Coleman, 2010). Populus species can maintain growth and turgor under minor to modest stress by reducing osmotic pressure through osmotic modification, the energetic gathering of solutes during stress, and other methods (Tschaplinski. Et al.,2019)
Experimental Site
The pot experiment was conducted at the greenhouse of the Rangeland Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2023. The site is located at 33°43′N and 73°04′E at an altitude of 540 m above sea level on the Potohar Plateau in the northeastern region of the country. The experimental site has a humid subtropical climate with a mean annual rainfall of 790 mm.
Experimental treatments
This experiment was conducted in pots. Three different soil composites for pots were prepared as per the general recommendation of balanced fertile soil. The selected tree species for this study were three varieties of Populus deltoides: local poplar, Italian poplar and clone AY48. Twenty-seven plants of each species were transplanted into different soil compositions, which were divided into three sets. Thus, a total of 81 plants were transplanted in this study. The objective of this study was to assess the growth and biomass of three fast-growing hybrid species of Populus deltoides under various soil profiles to overcome the imbalance of wood demand and supply in the country due to their short rotation and fast-growing nature. To achieve the study objectives, three fast-growing hybrid species of Populus deltoides, Italian Populus (euramerciana), clone A-Y48, and local Populus were used. Three healthy plants of mothers aged one to two years were selected from the field area of the Rangeland Research Institute (RRI), NARC. Thirty cuttings were taken from each healthy maternal plant. The average length of the cuttings was 8–9 inches. These cuttings were put into bags to maintain their moisture content and transported to the nursery site for further planting into the pots. The cuttings were planted in 90 pots and arranged into the nursery bed. These pots were filled with three different media. The three media used were compost, vermicompost, and farmyard manure (FYM). These media were taken at three different ratios (30–70, 40–60, and 50–50). All the soil media were examined for pH, EC, bulk density, and N, P, and K. These cuttings were horizontally planted into the pots at 80–85°C.
Data collection
The growth data were recorded daily until they emerged. Then, plant growth was recorded after seven days for no leaves, height, diameter, or no irrigation frequency in each pot under the nursery conditions. Three-month data were collected from the pothouses. All the data were recorded on an analysis sheet and used in the RCBD design. At the end of the experiment, entire plants were examined, and soil samples were taken from the pots and subsequently transported to the laboratory of the RRI. The total biomass and total carbon stock were estimated. A factor of 0.50 was multiplied by the biomass to obtain the total carbon stock. These results were evaluated with statistical tools to determine the results and to support our objective.
Table 1 Study design and details of manure treatment at different ratios and replicates in this study
Statistical analysis
The data collected on various parameters were subjected to statistical analysis via analysis of variance (ANOVA) under a completely randomized design. Means were compared by using the least significant difference (LSD) test.
This chapter describes the results of the study in detail. The data collected from the field were analyzed and are presented in the form of tables. The main aim of the study was to examine the growth, height, and above- and belowground biomass of three different varieties (local poplar, Italian poplar, and clone ay48) of Populus deltoides. The impacts of various soil manures (compost, vermicompost, farmyard manure) and their ratios (r1, 30:70; r2, 40:60; and r3, 50:50) on Populus deltoides varieties and the physiochemical health of the soil were also studied. The analysis and interpretations of the findings are discussed.
4.1 Growth parameters
4.1.1 Plant Height
The application of manures at different ratios significantly affected plant height. The data presented in Table 4.1 show the results obtained after one complete growing season. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in plant height among the soil manures. The maximum mean height was obtained at the FYM farm (33.16 cm), followed by the VC farm (28.75 cm), whereas the minimum mean height was obtained at the compost farm (26.23 cm). The influence of soil manure on the height of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.2. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in the height of all the Populus deltoides varieties. The maximum mean height was recorded for AY48 (35.56 cm), followed by Italian (33.30 cm), whereas the minimum mean height was recorded for local poplar (19.28 cm). The effect of the manure ratio on the height of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.3. The plant height in R1 was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from that in R2 and R3. R3. The maximum mean height was obtained in R1 (31.85 cm), whereas the minimum mean height was obtained in R2 (28.07 cm) and R3 (28.22 cm). Among the interactions between soil manure, plant variety, and soil ratio, the significant maximum mean in the entire bar series was followed by later scripts for smaller means. Digits carrying the same scripts were considered to be significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). Kumar et al. (Kumar et al., 2023) studied different plant varieties in the FYM and canal silt and recorded the highest plant height in the FYM. The results of this experiment are in agreement with those of the present study.
Another scholar experimented on ten cuttings of poplar clones for various parameters and observed a greater DBH and height in the poplar clone AY48 than in other clones, which matches the findings of the present study by Yeo Jin-gi et al. (2007).
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
Compost |
34.23a |
19.06c |
25.40b |
26.23C |
|
FYM |
34.63a |
33.14a |
31.72a |
33.16A |
|
VC |
26.69b |
32.01a |
27.54b |
28.75B |
|
Mean |
31.85A |
28.07B |
28.22B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD Value (0.05) for Manures = 1.9274
LSD value (0.05) for menures × ratio = 3.3383
|
Manures |
Plant Varieties |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AY48 |
Italian |
Local |
||
|
Compost |
28.79d |
25.96de |
23.94e |
26.23C |
|
FYM |
40.92a |
41.35a |
17.22f |
33.16A |
|
VC |
36.97b |
32.59c |
16.68f |
28.75B |
|
Mean |
35.56A |
33.30B |
19.28C |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 1.9277
LSD value (0.05) for Manures × Variants = 3.3388
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
AY48 |
39.51a |
36.41a |
30.76b |
35.56A |
|
Italian |
31.46b |
32.17b |
36.27a |
33.30B |
|
Local |
24.58c |
15.62d |
17.64d |
19.28C |
|
Mean |
31.85A |
28.07B |
28.22B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for the ratio = 1.9148
LSD value (0.05) for varieties × ratios = 3.3166
4.1.2 Total Biomass
All the biomass of the plant, i.e., aboveground and belowground biomass, was included. The effects of soil manures and ratios are presented in Table 4.4. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in the total biomass of the plants among the soil manures. The maximum mean was recorded in the FYM treatment (14.51 g), followed by the compost treatment (13.25 g), whereas the minimum mean was recorded in the VC treatment (12.03 g). The effect of soil manure on the total biomass of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.5. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in the height of all the Populus deltoides varieties. The maximum mean was recorded for AY48 (15.64 g), followed by Italian (13.05), whereas the minimum mean was recorded for local poplar (11.06). The influence of manure ratio on the total biomass of different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.6. The total biomass of the plants in R1 was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from that in R2 and R3. The maximum mean was recorded in R1 (14.12 g), whereas the minimum mean was recorded in R2 (13.03 g) and R3 (12.64 g). Among the interactions between soil manure, plant variety, and soil ratio, the significant maximum mean in the entire bar series was followed by later scripts for smaller means. Digits carrying the same scripts were considered to be significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, Mandal et al. (2009) analyzed soybean production and biomass yield in response to NPK fertilizer and organic manure and recorded significant differences in total biomass in the FYM + NPK treatment compared to the NPK + control. This result is in agreement with the current study
On the other hand, a scholar studied the responses of ten poplar clones and one willow clone and reported that Clone Ay-48 produced the greatest biomass and annual total biomass in comparison to the other clones (Yeo Jin-gi et al., 2007), which is in agreement with the findings of the present study.
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
Compost |
18.14a |
10.05d |
11.57c |
13.25B |
|
FYM |
14.6b |
14.61b |
14.30b |
14.51A |
|
VC |
9.60d |
14.43b |
12.06c |
12.03C |
|
Mean |
14.12A |
13.03B |
12.64B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD Value (0.05) for Manures = 0.6086
LSD Value (0.05) for Manures × Ratios = 1.0541
|
Manures |
Plant varieties |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AY48 |
Italian |
Local |
||
|
Compost |
11.16c |
10.89c |
17.62b |
13.22B |
|
FYM |
19.81a |
15.87b |
7.85d |
14.51A |
|
VC |
15.97b |
12.40c |
7.72d |
12.03C |
|
Mean |
15.64A |
13.05B |
11.06C |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 1.0220
LSD value (0.05) for Manures × Variants = 1.7701
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
AY48 |
14.42cd |
18.52a |
13.99de |
15.64A |
|
Italian |
11.21f |
12.62ef |
15.42bc |
13.08B |
|
Local |
16.73b |
7.95 g |
8.51 g |
11.06C |
|
Mean |
14.12A |
13.03B |
12.64B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 0.8198
LSD value (0.05) for varieties × ratios = 1.4199
4.1.3 Aboveground Biomass
The effects of different soil manures and ratios on the aboveground biomass of plants, i.e., shoots and leaves, are shown in Table 4.7. No significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference was detected in the aboveground biomass of the plants among the soil manures. The maximum mean was recorded in the FYM treatment (3.31 g), followed by the compost treatment (3.04 g), whereas the minimum mean was recorded in the VC treatment (2.97). The influence of soil manure on the aboveground biomass of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.8. AY48 and Italian were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from local poplar. The maximum mean was obtained in Italy (3.31 g), followed by AY48 (3.26 g), whereas the minimum mean was in local poplar (2.79 g). The effect of the manure ratio on the aboveground biomass of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.9. The aboveground biomass of the plants in R1 was significantly different from that in R2 and R3. The maximum mean was recorded in R1 (3.26 g), followed by R2 (3.21 g), whereas the minimum mean was recorded in R3 (2.85 g). Among the interactions between soil manure, plant variety, and soil ratio, the significant maximum mean in the entire bar series was followed by later scripts for smaller means. Digits carrying the same scripts were considered to be significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). Sarma and Gogoi (2015) studied the effects of different soil organic amendments on the germination of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) and recorded high aboveground biomass in vermicompost and recommended FYM and VC compared to biochar. This result is in agreement with the current study. Sher et al. (2000) conducted a comparison between Populus deltoides and Tamarix ramosissima and measured the growth responses of each species in terms of height and aboveground biomass; the authors concluded that Populus deltoides density (height, aboveground biomass) was more important than the Tamarix density for determining growth response, which is in agreement with the findings of the present study.
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
Compost |
3.49a |
3.05abc |
2.59c |
3.04A |
|
FYM |
3.35ab |
3.43a |
3.14abc |
3.31A |
|
VC |
2.95abc |
3.15abc |
2.81bc |
2.97A |
|
Mean |
3.26A |
3.21A |
2.85B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD Value (0.05) for Manures = 0.3517
LSD value (0.05) for menures × ratios = 0.6091
|
Manures |
Plant varieties |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AY48 |
Italian |
Local |
||
|
Compost |
2.61bc |
2.87bc |
3.64a |
3.04A |
|
FYM |
3.87a |
3.62a |
2.44c |
3.31A |
|
VC |
3.31ab |
3.30ab |
2.30c |
2.97A |
|
Mean |
3.26A |
3.27A |
2.79B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 0.4146
LSD value (0.05) for Manures × varieties = 0.7180
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
AY48 |
3.40ab |
3.55a |
2.85bcd |
3.26A |
|
Italian |
3.27abc |
3.38ab |
3.15abcd |
3.27A |
|
Local |
3.12abcd |
2.71cd |
2.55d |
2.79B |
|
Mean |
3.26A |
3.21AB |
2.85B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 0.3704
LSD value (0.05) for varieties × ratios = 0.5415
4.1.4 Belowground Biomass
The influence of different soil manures and ratios on the belowground biomass of plants is shown in Table 4.5. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in the belowground biomass of plants among the soil manures. The maximum mean was recorded for compost (3.35 g), followed by FYM (3.03 g), whereas the minimum mean was recorded for VC (2.64 g). The effects of soil manure on the belowground biomass of the different Populus deltoides varieties are shown in Table 4.9. AY48 and Italian were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from local poplar. No significant difference is present between AY48 and Italy. The maximum mean was obtained in AY48 (3.48 g), followed by Italian (3.20 g), whereas the minimum mean was in local poplar (2.35). The effect of the manure ratio on the belowground biomass of the different Populus deltoides varieties is shown in Table 4.13. The belowground biomass of the different varieties in R1 was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from that in R2 and R3. The maximum mean was recorded in R1 (3.46 g), followed by R3 (2.81), whereas the minimum mean was recorded in R2 (2.756 g). Among the interactions between soil manure, plant variety, and soil ratio, the significant maximum mean in the entire bar series was followed by later scripts for smaller means. Digits carrying the same scripts were considered to be significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). Reeve et al. (2010) conducted a study on wheat plants treated with fertilizers and compost + fertilizers. The study revealed that the belowground biomass was greater in response to fertilizer alone than in combination with 1% compost. This result is in agreement with the current study. Arora et al. (2014) studied the growth and carbon stocks of Populus deltoides plants of different ages and reported that belowground biomass significantly increased with age (1–11 years), which is in agreement with the findings of the present study.
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
Compost |
4.79a |
2.22 |
3.04bc |
3.35A |
|
FYM |
3.10b |
3.15b |
2.84bcd |
3.03B |
|
VC |
2.49de |
2.89bcd |
2.55cde |
2.64C |
|
Mean |
3.46A |
2.76B |
2.81B |
3.01 |
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD Value (0.05) for Manures = 0.3083
LSD value (0.05) for menures × ratios = 0.5340
|
Manures |
Plant varieties |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AY48 |
Italian |
Local |
||
|
Compost |
2.99b |
3.22b |
3.83a |
3.35A |
|
FYM |
4.21a |
3.30b |
1.59c |
3.03B |
|
VC |
3.23b |
3.07 |
1.63c |
2.64C |
|
Mean |
3.48A |
3.20A |
2.35B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 0.3069
LSD value (0.05) for Manures × Variants = 0.5316
|
Manures |
Soil: Manure Ratios |
Mean |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
||
|
AY48 |
3.33abc |
3.97a |
3.13bc |
3.48A |
|
Italian |
3.07bc |
2.77c |
3.75ab |
3.20A |
|
Local |
3.98a |
1.52d |
1.55d |
2.35B |
|
Mean |
3.46A |
2.76B |
2.81B |
|
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for varieties = 0.4107
LSD value (0.05) for varieties × ratios = 0.7113
4.2 SOIL ANALYSIS
Table 4.13 indicates that the soil in all the manures was alkaline. The highest pH was observed in the FYM (8.75), followed by that in the compost (8.23), and the lowest pH was observed in the VC (7.72%).
As shown in Table 4.13, the maximum EC was obtained from VC 690.22, followed by FYM 622.1, and the minimum EC was obtained from compost 600.33. Total N was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in the FYM than in the VC and compost, and total P was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in both the VC and FYM than in the compost. P was significantly greatest in FYM 719.22, followed by VC 689.11, and the total p was minimal in compost 618.3. (Table 4.13). One scholar studied the effects of different organic manures (compost, VC, FYM) and micronutrients (NPK) on the yield of cotton, and the results were in agreement with those of the present study (Channagouda et al., 2015).
|
Soil property |
Compost |
VC |
FYM |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
pH |
8.23a |
7.72b |
8.75b |
||||
|
EC (ms/m) |
600.33c |
790.22a |
685.1b |
||||
|
N |
0.814c |
0.94b |
1.32a |
||||
|
P (mg/kg) |
1.37c |
2.18a |
2.35a |
||||
|
K (ppm) |
618.3c |
689.11b |
719.22a |
||||
At the 0.05 probability level, means denoted by different letters vary significantly.
LSD value (0.05) for compost = 1.6421
LSD value (0.05) for VC = 3.2261
LSD value (0.05) for FYM = 3.7445
The summarized results of the present research revealed that the response to farmyard manure had a positive and significant influence on the height of different Populus deltoides varieties. Clone AY-48 and Italian poplar plants are suitable species for rapid growth and short rotation and can improve the livelihood of former plants by growing these hybrid poplars on farmlands and in agroforestry. Clone AY-48 can also grow for carbon sequestration, which can help in combating climate change because it stores more carbon than Italian poplar plants, and local poplar plants are not suitable for planting due to their slow growth.
Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge the role of Mohammad Umar Farooq, Director of the Rangeland Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, and Islamabad, for providing utmost support at every step of this research and providing land and field operations during the research period. I am sincerely grateful to my research supervisor Dr. Aamir Saleem for giving me the opportunity to participate and providing vital guidance throughout this research and to my committee members Ms. Sabeeqa Usman Malik for their time and guidance.
Declaration of Funding: “This research did not receive any specific funding”.
Conflicts of interest: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”
Data availability statement: “Data availability does not apply to this research paper”.
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The authors declare no competing interests.