Geochemical and Petrographic Analysis of Metamorphic Rocks in Aliabad Mountain, Kabul Block, Afghanistan

The Kabul Block, a key geological feature in Afghanistan, comprises sedimentary, metamorphic, and volcanic rocks, including those of Aliabad Mountain. Despite its significance, Aliabad Mountain has received limited geochemical study. This research characterizes the lithological variations, chemical composition, and mineralogical properties of its metamorphic rocks to elucidate their protolith nature and tectonothermal history. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and petrographic analyses were conducted on 15 rock samples collected from five localities across Aliabad Mountain. Samples were powdered, pelletized, and analyzed using a calibrated XRF spectrometer. Results indicate a silicate-rich composition, with SiO₂ ranging from 60–72 wt%. One lithological unit shows elevated Fe (5.0–6.5 wt%), Ti (0.3–0.5 wt%), Mn (0.05–0.08 wt%), and Zr (0.015–0.02 wt%), suggesting a mafic or hydrothermally altered protolith. Another unit is enriched in phosphorus (0.1–0.5 wt%) and contains apatite and trace Cu (0.001–0.003 wt%), indicating a felsic, phosphate-bearing origin. Ni (0.002–0.004 wt%) and Co (0.008–0.012 wt%) were detected only in the oxide-rich lithology, while Au, Ag, Pd, Nb, and W were below detection limits, ruling out metallic mineralization. Petrographic analysis reveals biotite gneisses and amphibolites with sedimentary textures, supporting a paragneiss origin. These findings enhance understanding of the Proterozoic Kabul Block’s geological evolution and suggest potential for construction material sourcing due to the rocks’ stable mineralogy, despite limited economic mineral potential

Effects of Nutrient Management on Growth, Agronomic Efficiency, and Economic Yield of Barley in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major grain crop in the world, and Afghanistan. Indigenous nutrients are frequently the most limiting factors for crop output in the world's major agricultural areas, therefore good fertilizer use tactics generally result in significant financial gains for farmers. A field experiment was carried out at the research farm of Afghanistan National Agricultural Science & Technology University (ANASTU) Kandahar, Afghanistan. The experiment consisted of two barley varieties viz., Takhar Barley 013and Darulaman Barley 013 combined with 6 indigenous nutrient supply treatments. The set of treatment combinations were replicated three times in a factorial randomized block design. Among indigenous nutrient supply, agronomic use efficiency (AUE) of N (12.88 kg kg-N-1), P (25.75 kg kg-P-1), K (40.0 kg kg- K2O -1) and Zn (367.9 kg kg-Zn-1),  PFP of N (29.2 kg kg-N-1), P (58.3 kg kg-P-1), K (116.7 kg kg- K2O -1) and Zn (833.4 kg kg-Zn-1), gross returns (109085.4 AFN ha-1) and net returns (50089.5 AFN ha-1) were significantly higher with application of recommended rates of fertilizer application (NPKZn) as compared to omission of nutrients. Whereas, N omitted plots recorded significantly, whereas AUE over other nutrient omitted plots. Therefore, Takhar Barley 013 genotype along with recommended rate of fertilizers was found more productive and economically remunerative for cultivation in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Response of Onion Growth and Yield to Potassium Application in Alkaline Soils

Onion (Allium cepa L.)  is one of the most important commercial vegetables, which, after tomatoes, ranks second in the world, especially in Afghanistan. It is a great source of vitamins, protein, and amino acids, which are useful for human food and traditional medicine. This experiment was conducted in 2022 at the research farm of the agriculture faculty of Kabul University to find out the response of onion to potassium application in alkaline soil. The different levels of potassium (0, 11.25, 22.5, 33.75, 45, 56.25, 67.5, 78.75, and 90 kg per hectare) were used as treatments. The growth, quality, and yield attributes of onions were studied in this investigation. The research was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and the data was analyzed with Statistical Tools for Agricultural Research (STAR 2.0.1) software. The results show that the application of 22.5 kg per hectare potassium boosts both growth and yield attributes of onion. Farmers are suggested to apply this quantity of potassium through the sulfate of potash to produce a higher yield of onion

Environmental Fate and Toxicity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Review

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are increasingly utilized in agriculture, electronics, and medicine, raising concerns about their environmental fate and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to review the fate, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of ZnO NPs in aquatic ecosystem. This review was conducted through a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed literature from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Finding indicates that ZnO NP fate in aquatic ecosystems is governed by key environmental factors, including pH, ionic strength, and DOM. ZnO NPs tend to aggregate in high-salinity environments, whereas acidic conditions enhance dissolution, leading to increased Zn²⁺ ion release and potential toxicity. Smaller ZnO NPs exhibit higher reactivity and bioavailability, increasing their potential for bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation of ZnO NPs is influenced by concentration, exposure time, and particle size, with smaller nanoparticles being more readily absorbed by aquatic organisms. Toxicity varies depending on exposure duration and environmental conditions, with DOM playing a mitigating role by reducing Zn²⁺ ion availability. Additionally, ZnO NP exposure has been linked to oxidative stress, developmental abnormalities, and behavioral changes in aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for regulations and tailored risk assessments that account for water chemistry variations to mitigate ecological risks. Future research should focus on long-term impacts, including multi-species interactions and trophic transfer, to improve mitigation strategies

Evaluation of the Effect of Different Fungicides on Potato Brown Leaf Spot Alternaria alternata in Greenhouse

One of the successful strategies to increase the yield of potatoes is the management of diseases and pests during the whole growing period. Potato brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr) Keissler is one of the most destructive diseases of potatoes worldwide. The present study compared two different fungicide programs under greenhouse conditions during 2022. Firstly, the resistance of five local potato varieties (Lora, Kofre-hemaloni, Kofre-Gibson, Evalovetion, and Morabell) was evaluated under greenhouse conditions to the pathogen to find the most susceptible variety for further experiment. The degree of infection by the pathogen was calculated. The study demonstrated that the Lora variety had the most tolerance, and the Morabell variety was sensitive to the pathogen. Then, the effects of three common chemical fungicides (Mancozeb®80%, Penconazole®20%, and Topguard®30% (Flutriafol (6.94% + tebuconazole (20.8%) were tested against the pathogen using the most sensitive potato variety (Morabell) in CRD (Completely Randomized Design) under greenhouse condition. The means of infection was calculated over ten days. Specific doses of the fungicides had a significant effect in reducing disease. The severity of the disease decreased with the increased use of all the applied fungicides. The study revealed that Mancozeb and Penconazole with 1g per liter doses were the most effective treatment in controlling brown leaf spots in potatoes

Optimizing Waste Transfer Station Siting in Kabul Using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Efficient siting of waste transfer stations is vital for reducing operational costs, improving recycling outcomes, and minimizing environmental impacts in rapidly urbanizing cities like Kabul. Despite the Kabul Urban Design Framework (KUDF, 2018) identifying nine proposed locations for transfer stations, not a single facility has been implemented, largely due to financial limitations and uncertainty over the technical suitability of those sites which resulted in delays in implementation of transfer stations and inefficient sorting and hauling of waste to the Gazak 2 landfill limiting recycling efforts and landfill diversion due to mixed and contaminated waste. This study applies a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework, incorporating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC), to identify spatially optimal locations for waste transfer stations in Kabul. Four criteria—proximity to main roads, residential areas, water bodies, and terrain slope—were evaluated and weighted using expert input. Results show that only 18.16% of Kabul’s land is highly suitable for transfer station siting, with buildings and roads being the most influential factors. When overlaid with the KUDF-proposed sites, six of nine were found to be located within suitable or highly suitable zones. The remaining sites require further reassessment due to proximity to sensitive areas or infrastructural constraints. The findings highlight the critical role of spatial decision support in addressing implementation delays and improving solid waste logistics. This study provides a replicable framework and practical guidance for Kabul Municipality and other cities facing similar challenges in optimizing waste management infrastructure

Opportunities and Challenges to Afghanistan's Self-sufficiency in Livestock Production Sector

Afghanistan is an agricultural country where livestock is the main source of income for most of the people. Although hundreds of thousands of metric tons of livestock products are produced, large amounts of animal products are still imported to the country. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the opportunities and challenges confronting Afghanistan's self-sufficiency in livestock products. The data were collected from 48 key professionals by semi-structured interviews using a pre-designed questionnaire. More than 52% of the respondents hold bachelor's/DVM degrees, while the rest have master's (35.4%) and PhD (12.5%) degrees in veterinary (72.1%) and animal science (27.9%) fields. About 80% of the respondents believed that Afghanistan has sufficient capacity to become self-sufficient in the animal products sector. At the same time, only half of them thought that Afghanistan is moving on the right track towards self-sufficiency in animal production. Destruction of pastures (95.7% ), neighboring countries' interventions in the market (95.1%) and importation of low-quality animal products (89.4%), insufficient scientific research projects (84.8%) and funds (84.5%) in the animal health and production sector, lack of proper packaging (87.2%) and suitable domestic market (80%) for animal products, traditional husbandry system (83.3%), shortage of concentrated feeds (78.3%) and excessive paperwork for the investors (69.6%) are the main challenges in front of self-sufficiency in animal products. The results of this study could help policymakers prioritize the animal health and production sector and adjust existing policies regarding animal products to meet the country's needs and accepted standards

Bacterial Contamination and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Isolates from Tanker-Distributed Drinking Water in Kabul, Afghanistan

Water quality is critical for public health, and access to safe drinking water is essential for preventing infectious diseases. In many areas of Kabul city, tanker-distributed water is an essential source, but its microbial quality remains uncertain. This cross-sectional study evaluated bacterial contamination and microbial resistance in tanker-distributed treated water in Kabul, comparing it to established standards. One hundred samples from 20 companies were collected between January and June 2024. Samples were cultured for total bacteria and coliform counts using spread plate and filtration methods. Confirmatory tests were performed on colonies. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion. The results indicated that all samples positive for bacterial contamination exceeded established standards, with 45% containing more than three species. None of the samples contained coliform bacteria. Seventeen distinct bacterial species were identified, including Acinetobacter baumannii (21%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10%). Additionally, the isolates displayed antibiotic resistance, posing significant health risks. Previously, there was a lack of reliable information regarding the bacterial contamination of water distributed by tankers. The results of this study revealed that bacterial contamination in water exceeded accepted standards. Additionally, pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms were detected. Therefore, relevant authorities must implement strict control and monitoring measures

Analysis of Vegetation Change Trends Using Satellite Data and Remote Sensing Techniques (Case Study: BAGRAM-Afghanistan)

Garden and agricultural species are closely related phenomena mainly observed in different regions of the world. Wherever there is agriculture, there are bound to be both fruitful and non-fruitful trees. Bagram district is one of the districts of Parwan province, where most of the people of this district are engaged in agriculture for their livelihood. The main objective of this research is to use satellite data, and an effort was made to extract the areas under plant cover and separate garden and crop species. The normalized vegetation cover index was used to obtain the areas covered by vegetation. All the areas covered by vegetation were extracted, and then the supervised maximum likelihood classification method was used to separate garden and agricultural species from each other. This research applied the vegetation index to Sentinel-2 imagery from 2018 and 2023, followed by supervised classification on the same datasets. Finally, the result was that the area of ​​agricultural land in 2018 was equal to 92 square kilometres, but it reached 100 square kilometres in 2023. Also, the land area of gardens was 15.92 square kilometres in 2018. However, by 2023, it reached 27 square kilometres, and the area of ​​agricultural lands and gardens in the Bagram district has increased by almost 20 square kilometres from 2018 to 2023

Influence of Taxation Policy on the Employment of Production Factors in Agriculture Sector Using a CGE Modelling Approach

This study investigates the impact of indirect taxation on employment in Afghanistan's agriculture sector, addressing the lack of research on its short-term macroeconomic effects, particularly in agricultural sub-sectors. To fill this gap, a general equilibrium model integrated with a social accounting matrix was used to quantify employment responses across ten scenarios, testing 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% changes in the 2018 indirect tax volume. The findings reveal a direct correlation between indirect taxes and labor and capital employment, where tax reductions led to a decline in employment across all agricultural categories. In contrast, tax increases had the opposite effect. Forestry contributed the most to employment growth under rising tax scenarios, followed by opium, vegetables, cereals, fruits, and livestock. The study highlights the need for alternative job opportunities and effective tax revenue management to mitigate labor market disruptions and support sustainable agricultural development