Syed Ali Tarmizi and Akhun Darwaiza: Mughal Agents or Popular Saints

The Sixteenth century proved an eventful period with regard to the Mughal-Pakhtūn relations in the north-western borderland region. Besides the political tug of war it witnessed a clash of religious nature between the two Ṣūfī saints of the area namely Bāyazīd Anṣārī and Syed ‘Alī Tirmidhī Aliās Pīr Bābā. Settled in the pre-dominantly anti-Mughal Pakhtūn abode Bāyazīd Anṣārī was an opponent of the Mughals in his political orientation in religious jargon. Pīr Bābā challenged his Ṣūfic interpretation based on the Waḥdat al-Wūjūd concept of Islamic mysticism. Their confrontation of mystic traditions gave birth to a debate that whether Pīr Bābā had confronted Bāyazīd for religious reasons or he was working for the interests of the Mughals. The present article aimed at to investigate the matter and to establish a factual position. It would further be explored to understand the nature and contents of the conflict that whether it was religious or otherwise.

Nitrogen Use-Efficiency in Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Different Types of Salt-Affected Soils Receiving Gypsum

Considerable nitrogen (N) losses lead to lower N use-efficiency (NUE) in salt- affected soils due to leaching and volatilization. A lysimeter experiment was conducted to determine NUE in two salt-affected soils of different texture (clay loam and sandy clay loam), using various rates of N fertilizer. The experiment used a three replicate completely randomized design. The treatments included five N rates, three higher (15, 30 and 45%) and two lower (15 and 30%) than recommended rate of 125 kg ha-1. Additionally, gypsum was added at 50 and 100% of soil gypsum requirement (SGR) in both salt-affected soils. Maximum paddy and straw yields were recorded for sandy clay loam saline-sodic soil collected from Village 132, Faisalabad (132S), using 45% higher N + gypsum at 100% SGR. Whereas clay loam saline-sodic soil, from Village 84, Faisalabad (84S) at 30% higher N rate with gypsum at 50% SGR gave the highest paddy and straw yields. In general, the clay loam soil produced more paddy yield than the sandy clay loam soil at similar N fertilization. In the sandy clay loam soil, gypsum at 100% SGR along with a 30% higher N rate increased the grain and straw yields of wheat significantly (p < 0.05) compared to application of gypsum at only 50% SGR. Nitrogen use efficiency was the highest with 45% higher N (N145) with gypsum applied @ 100% SGR compared to 50% SGR in severe salt-affected (sandy clay loam) soil during rice crop. From marginal clay loam saline-sodic soil, NUE remained higher with N130 along with gypsum @ 100% SGR which was statistically on par with gypsum @ 50% SGR. It was concluded that NUE remained highest with N130 and N145 with gypsum applied @ 100% SGR during rice crop from clay loam and sandy clay loam soils, respectively. Moreover, NUE was higher at recommended N fertilization when gypsum was applied at 100% SGR which was also attributed to improved soil chemical properties, i.e. pHs, ECe and SAR. A field experiment was conducted at Village 132/ GB and 84/ GB to determine NUE in the two salt-affected soils of contrasting texture (clay loam and sandy clay loam), using higher rates of N than that in their counterpart normal soils. The experiment was laid-out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The promising treatments were selected from lysimeter experiments for field experimentation. The treatments employed for normal soils were: No fertilizer (C), recommended N fertilizer (N100), 15% higher N than recommended N fertilizer (N115), 30% higher N than recommended N fertilizer (N130). The treatments selected for salt-affected soils were: No fertilizer and no gypsum (C), recommended N + gypsum @ 50% SGR (N100+G50), 30% higher N than recommended N fertilizer + gypsum @ 50% SGR (N130+G50), recommended N + gypsum @ 100% SGR (N100+G100), 30% higher N than recommended N fertilizer + gypsum @ 100% SGR (N130+G100). The highest NO3- leaching was recorded with N130 along with gypsum @ 100% SGR from clay loam (84S) and sandy clay loam (132S) salt-affected soils. During wheat crop, more NO3- concentration in leachate was recorded compared to those during rice crop. The crop yield was lowered from salt-affected soils during amelioration by using higher rates of fertilizer (N130) and gypsum application compared to their counterpart normal soils. The 30% higher N than recommended with gypsum @ 50% and 100% SGR improved (salt- affected soil) properties and crop yields from clay loam (marginal SA) and sandy clay loam (highly SA) soils, respectively. During early stages of reclamation, higher doses of N and gypsum are required to achieve maximum economical yield and NUE. During 2nd year, NUE was the highest with recommended rate of N and gypsum @ 50% and 100% SGR for clay loam and sandy clay loam soils, respectively. The greatest decrease in yield gap from sandy clay loam and clay loam saline-sodic soils was observed with 30% higher rate of applied N along with gypsum @ 100% SGR and 50% SGR, respectively.