EFFECT OF SOWING METHODS, MULCHING MATERIALS AND IRRIGATION ON WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND SOIL CHARACTERISTICS FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION By Syed Shahid Hussain Shah M.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture 99-ag-1321 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOIL SCIENCE INSTITUTE OF SOIL & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD (PAKISTAN) 2013