Effect of growing degree days on autumn planted sunflower

Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) having high degree of adaptability under wide range of climatic conditions, allow the crop to be productive in broad range of environments. Field experiments in autumn were laid out at Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan for two years (2007 and 2008), to document the effect of growing degree days (GDD) on the performance of sunflower hybrids. Four sunflower hybrids, Alisson-RM, Parasio-24, MG-2 and S-278 were planted in randomized complete block design with four replications during autumn season. The data on growing degree days accumulation during autumn and their effect on achene, oil yield and yield components of sunflower like number of achenes per head, hundred achenes weight, biological and achene yield was recorded. All these agronomic characters as well as oil characteristics were influenced by prevailing temperature. GDD collected during autumn season was the same for both years of study. Amongst hybrids, the hybrid MG-2 showed the maximum values for all the agronomic as well as oil parameters during the autumn season. At the late planting of sunflower during autumn season, crop completes its life cycle in short duration and accumulates less heat units, thus, achene and oil yield along with yield attributes are affected accordingly.Key words: Growing degree days (GDD), yield and yield components, sunflower

Acceptability and outcomes of the Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement--patients\u27 and care givers\u27 perspectives

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube has now become a preferred option for the long-term nutritional support device for patients with dysphagia. There is a considerable debate about the health issues related to the quality of life of these patients. Our aim of the study was to assess the outcome and perspectives of patients/care givers, about the acceptability of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. Methods: This descriptive analytic study conducted in patients, who have undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement during January 1998 till December 2004. Medical records of these patients were evaluated for their demographic characteristics, underlying diagnosis, indications and complications. Telephonic interviews were conducted till March 2005, on a pre-tested questionnaire to address psychological, social and physical performance status, of the health related quality of life issues. Results: A total of 191 patients\u27 medical records were reviewed, 120 (63%) were males, and mean age was 63 years. Early complication was infection at PEG tube site in 6 (3%) patients. In follow up over 365 +/- 149 days, late complications (occurring 72 hours later) were infection at PEG tube site in 29 (15 %) patient and dislodgment/blockage of the tube in 26 (13.6%). Interviews were possible with 126 patients/caretakers. Karnofsky Performance Score of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 was found in 13(10%), 18(14%), 21(17%), 29(23%) and 45(36%) with p-value \u3c 0.001. Regarding the social and psychological aspects; 76(60%) would like to have the PEG tube again if required, 105(83 %) felt ease in feeding, and 76(60%) felt that PEG-tube helped in prolonging the survival. Regarding negative opinions; 49(39 %) felt that the feeding was too frequent, 45(36 %) felt apprehensive about dependency for feeding and 62(49%) were concerned about an increase in the cost of care. CONCLUSION: PEG-tube placement was found to be relatively free from serious immediate and long- term complications. Majority of caregivers and patient felt that PEG-tube helped in feeding and prolonging the survival. Studies are needed to assess the real benefit in terms of actual nutritional gain and quality of life in such patients

Use of natural nitrogen stabilizers to improve nitrogen use efficiency and wheat crop yield

Complex nature of nitrogen fertilizer in soil and poor management practices are major causes of low fertilizer use efficiency in Pakistan. These factors further increases nitrogen losses in form of nitrate leaching and volatilization of ammonium, as well as nitric oxide which are burning economic and environmental threats. Keeping in view the demand of urea application in Pakistan and its low efficiency, we hypothized that appropriate urea management with neem formulations or biofertilizers can enhance the nitrogen use efficiency. We designed experiment with treatments: T0 (N0 application), T1 (recommended nitrogen), T2 (recommended nitrogen + biofertilizer), T3 (recommended nitrogen + neem seed extract), T4 (75% recommended nitrogen + biofertilizer), T5 (75% recommended nitrogen + neem seed extract), T6 (recommended nitrogen + biofertilizer + neem seed extract), T7 (75% recommended nitrogen + biofertilizer + neem seed extract) in wheat crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangements. Different approaches for stabilized nitrogen fertilizer responded significantly for the wheat plant height, tillers per plant, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain yield, grain yield and harvest index. Result exhibited that wheat crop enhanced yield attributes and finally the yield under treatment T6 and T7 for both wheat cultivars. Treatments comparison with recommended nitrogen (T1) revealed that all treatments with biofertilizer, as well as with neem seed, enhanced crop performance along with nitrogen use efficiency. It can be concluded that nitrogen fertilizer can be stabilized in the soil with the use of different natural products for sustainable crop production

Exogenous application of gibberellic acid improves the maize crop productivity under scarce and sufficient soil moisture condition

Drought stress creates imbalance or deficiency of some growth regulators in plants, which leads toward reduced crop yield. Gibberellic acid is one of the most important growth regulators in plants, which improve drought tolerance in plants under optimum concentration. A field experiment was conducted under exogenous application of gibberellic acid under normal or drought condition and with or without gibberellic acid application. Crop growth and yield parameters were assesses during the experimentation. Study revealed that crop reduced growth in term of leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and total dry matter (TDM) under drought condition, while these parameters were improved with gibberellic acid application. Similary, improved growth rate resulted in better performance of yield attributes (cob length, cob diameter, grains per cob, grain weight and yield). Gibberellic acid application improved the crop performance at optimum irrigation, as well as under reduced irrigation. Although highest crop yield was recorded with gibberellic acid application under optimum irrigation level, while its application under drought stress improved crop tolerance and resulted in better crop yield, similar to optimum irrigation level. Exogenous application of gibberellic acid not only improved the drought tolerance in maize, but also increased the crop yield under normal condition

Predictors of gastrointestinal lesions on endoscopy in iron deficiency anemia without gastrointestinal symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) due to occult gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss usually remains unnoticed until patient become symptomatic. There is sparse data in IDA patients without gastrointestinal symptoms. This study was designed to find out the frequency and predictors of endoscopic lesions in IDA without gastrointestinal symptoms. Cross-sectional study performed on a convenience sample of consecutive subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ninety five consecutive patients with laboratory based diagnosis of IDA having no gastrointestinal symptoms were interviewed and their clinical and biochemical variables were recorded. All the study patients underwent esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy. Endoscopic findings were documented as presence/absence of bleeding related lesion and presence/absence of cause of IDA. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify variables significantly related to outcome variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Possible cause of anaemia was found in 71% and bleeding related lesions were found in 53% of patients. Upper gastrointestinal tract lesions were found in 41% of patients with bleeding related lesions. On multivariable logistic regression; advancing age, low mean corpuscular volume (MCV ≤ 60 fl), and positive fecal occult blood test were predictive factors for bleeding related GI lesions and cause of IDA</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Clinical and Biochemical markers can predict gastrointestinal lesions on endoscopy in IDA patients without gastrointestinal symptoms. High proportion of upper gastrointestinal involvement warrants EGD as initial endoscopic procedure however, this needs validation by further studies.</p

Integrated effects of nitrogen form, row spacing, and herbicide treatment on maize

To control weeds and cultivate maize (Zea mays L.) with higher yields, production systems have to include more efficient forms of N and appropriate herbicide treatments. The timing of N release could give maize an advantage over weeds in competition for resources, whereas cultivation at lower row spacing often decreases weed biomass. Knowledge about the different factors affecting herbicide efficiency increases the accuracy and reliability of chemical control. This study tested the weed infestation level and the development and productivity of a recently developed maize hybrid grown with the application of several integrated practices. The maize hybrid was sown with application of standard and slow-releasing urea, with row spacing of 50 and 70 cm and treatment with either a pre-emergence or a post-emergence mix of herbicides. The numbers of plants of each weed species and their biomass were lower after the application of herbicides, although N form and row spacing produced no significant differences in the average weed infestation level for 3 yr. The post-emergence herbicide treatment was more effective than the pre-emergence treatment for weed biomass reduction and enhancing maize yield parameters. The N form did not influence any measured yield parameter, whereas the 70-cm row spacing resulted in significantly higher harvest index and grain yield (0.45 and 9.19 Mg ha(-1), respectively) than the 50-cm spacing (0.43 and 7.36 Mg ha(-1), respectively). The wider row spacing resulted in higher grain yield through its interaction with N form and herbicide treatment