Iron and Zinc Bio-Fortification Strategies in Wheat Crop by Exogenous Application of Micronutrients

Under nutrition or nutrient deficiency is a major concern in third world, and is an underlying cause for millions of deaths each year. Biofortification is an important technique to increase the concentration of trace mineral elements in the grain which improve the nutritional value of cereal and solve health problems in poorer areas of world. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the biofortification potential of wheat crop by exogenously applied micro nutrients (Fe & Zn). Soil and foliar application with two levels of Fe and Zn (2 mg kg-1 and 4 mg kg-1) were applied according to CRD under factorial design. Results showed that soil application of Fe and Zn at 4 mg kg-1 is significant effect on plant available nutrients and nutrient concentration in wheat straw and grain. Application of micronutrients also increased and improved growth parameters. Keywords: Wheat, Zinc, Iron, Biofortification, Plant Nutrient

Growth and Ionic Composition of Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) in Response to Soil Salinity and Water Stress

Salinity and bad quality irrigation water is very common problem in Pakistan due to limited rainfall, more evapo-transpiration and high temperature. So, there is need to select salt and drought tolerant plants. In view of that a pot experiment was conducted to study the growth performance and ionic composition of Conocarpus erectus L. under saline and water stress conditions. Eight treatments (Control, 10 dSm-1, 20 dSm-1, 40 dSm-1,  water stress, 10 dSm-1 + water stress, 20 dSm-1 + water stress, 40 dSm-1 + water stress) were evaluated in order to assess their effect on plant growth and ionic composition . At T8 (40 dSm-1 + water stress), plants did not survive. The data regarding growth parameters and physiological were recorded at different stages of plant growth. Plant ionic parameters including Na+, K+ were determined in stem, leaves and root after harvesting. The data were analyzed statistically. It is concluded that Conocarpus erectus L. can tolerate salinity up to 40dSm-1 with full water but at salinity and water stress level of 40 dSm-1 + water stress, there was no survival of even a single plant. Keywords: Growth, potassium status, buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.), soil salinity, water stres

Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Important Plant Attributes of Spring Wheat Under Normal and Drought Stress Conditions

A comparative study was conducted in drought and normally irrigated conditions, in which 25 genotypes of wheat were evaluated for various morphological traits involving plant height, canopy temperature, flag leaf area, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per hectare and relative water contents. A duplicated randomized complete block design was used in the experimental area of the Wheat Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad. Path coefficient and correlation for above-mentioned traits in both environments estimated and results revealed that spike length, spike density and 1000-grain weight were the main contributor in yield in both concerned environments. Maximum yield was recorded for the genotype V-11164 in normal and V-11168 in drought conditions whereas most stable genotype was V-11168 for yield in drought conditions. In normal conditions maximum correlation was recorded for number of grains per spike followed by grain weight per spike whereas number of grains per spike was also have top most value of correlation in drought environment. Keywords Wheat. Correlation and Path coefficient. Morphological Traits

Correlation and path coefficient analysis for important plant attributes of spring wheat under normal and drought stress conditions

A comparative study was conducted in drought and normally irrigated conditions, in which 25 genotypes of wheat were evaluated for various morphological traits involving plant height, canopy temperature, flag leaf area, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per hectare and relative water contents. A duplicated randomized complete block design was used in the experimental area of the Wheat Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad. Path coefficient and correlation for above-mentioned traits in both environments estimated and results revealed that spike length, spike density and 1000-grain weight were the main contributor in yield in both concerned environments. Maximum yield was recorded for the genotype V-11164 in normal and V-11168 in drought conditions whereas most stable genotype was V-11168 for yield in drought conditions. In normal conditions maximum correlation was recorded for number of grains per spike followed by grain weight per spike whereas number of grains per spike was also have top most value of correlation in drought environment. Keywords Wheat. Correlation and Path coefficient. Morphological Traits

The evaluation of various soil conditioners effects on the amelioration of saline-sodic soil

The soil salinity and sodicity collectively are the major problems in the soils of Pakistan and proved a continuous threat for the sustainability of agriculture.  A pot study was planned to ameliorate such problematic soils and for this purpose different soil conditioners were used viz. gypsum @ 39.078 g pot-1 soil gypsum requirement, Citric acid (CA) @ 29.067 g pot-1, H2SO4 @ 11.24 ml pot-1 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) @ 19.98 g pot-1 and control without any amendment and wheat was grown as a test crop. The results showed that maximum decrease in pH and SAR were 8.31 and 12.04 (mmol L-1)1/2 by application of H2SO4 and citric acid respectively. Similarly H2SO4 and citric acid treatment show significant results related to crop growth and yield. The maximum plant height (63.33cm), number of tillers (4.63), photosynthetic rate ((2.83 µmolm-2s-1), transpiration rate (0.63 molm-2s-1), stomata conductance (0.53 molm-2s-1), were by application of H2SO4. while the results related to grain yield were as maximum grain yield by H2SO4 was (15.67 g) and minimum grain yield was observed with control (6.73g). Moreover the decrease in grain yield was as H2SO4 (9.98 g) > citric acid (8.33 g) > PVA (7.36 g) > gypsum (6.12 g) > control (5.53g). From this experiment it was concluded that H2SO4 showed quick impact on soil physicochemical properties and growth parameters but gypsum and citric acid were long term and sustainable source to reclaim and to make saline-sodic soils more productive as compare to other soil conditioners. Keywords: soil conditioners, amelioration, saline-sodic soi

Insecticide Screening For Effectiveness of Controlling Onion Thrips (Thrips Tabaci, Lindemann)

For the control of Thrips tabaci Lindeman Three insecticides product Movento240SC+Biopower276.6SL, Acephate75SP and Confidor200SL were applied against the onion (Allium cepa) thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman). The movento240SC+Biopower 276.6SP gave the highest results against the onion (Allium cepa) thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) as compared to the other market standard insecticides of Acephate75SP and confidor200SL. The dose of Movento 240SP + Biopower 276.6SL 2.8 + 4.7 ml having more good results as compared to the other dose Movento 240SP +  Biopower 276.6 SL 2.4 + 4.7 ml. Keywords: onion thrips, insecticide use, insect contro

Comparative effects of biochar-nanosheets and conventional organic-amendments on health risks abatement of potentially toxic elements via consumption of wheat grown on industrially contaminated-soil

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) discharge to the soil environment through increased anthropogenic activities is a global threat. These l'Its can have harmful and chronic-persistent health effects on exposed populations through food consumption grown on contaminated soils. Efforts to investigate the transformation mechanism and accumulation behavior of PTEs in soil-plant system and their adverse health effects have focused extensively in previous studies. However, limited studies address biochar nano sheets (BCNs) as a potential soil amendment to reduced humans health risks through dietary intake of food-crop grown on PTE-contaminated soil. Here, we showed how BCNs cutback health hazards of PTEs through impacts on bioavailability and phytoaccumulation of PTEs, and their daily intake via consumption of wheat. When BCNs amendment was compared with both conventional organic amendments (COAs) and control, it significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced bioavailability and uptake of PTEs by wheat plants. Based on risk assessment results, the hazard indices (HIs) for PTEs in all treatments were <1, however, BCNs addition significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced risk level, when compared to control. Furthermore, the cancer risks for Cd, Cr and Ni over a lifetime of exposure were higher in all treatments than the tolerable limit (1.00E-4 to 1.00E-6), however BCNs addition significantly suppressed cancer risk compared to control. Conclusively, our results suggest that BCNs can be used as soil amendment to reduce potential risks of PTEs through consumption of food grown in PTE-contaminated soils. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Efficacy of exogenous application of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) on growth and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

The growth and yield promotion of mungbean in response to the use of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) was investigated through a pot study which was arranged in the wire house of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The study was comprised of five treatments and three replications (control, 0.2 ppm 2, 4-D, 0.5 ppm 2, 4-D, 0.8 ppm 2, 4-D, and 1 ppm 2, 4-D). The suggested dose of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) was applied at the amount of 20, 60 and 25 kg ha-1 added as Urea, DAP and SOP, respectively at sowing time. The data regarding growth (plant height, root and shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, and total biomass), yield (grain weight, number of grains plant-1) and NPK analysis in plants and soil was recorded and statistically analyzed. The response of exogenous application of 2, 4-D was significant at all levels in improving the performance of all the growth parameters and yield as compared to untreated control treatment. Maximum performance of all the parameters was recorded at 0.8 ppm application of 2, 4-D. As the concentration of 2, 4-D increased the development of plants also showed positive effect but up to 0.8 ppm application after that it started to decrease which showed that at higher concentrations 2, 4-D acts as growth retardant

Enthralling the impact of engineered nanoparticles on soil microbiome: A concentric approach towards environmental risks and cogitation.

Nanotechnology is an avant-garde field of scientific research that revolutionizes technological advancements in the present world. It is a cutting-edge scientific approach that has undoubtedly a plethora of functions in controlling environmental pollutants for the welfare of the ecosystem. However, their unprecedented utilization and hysterical release led to a huge threat to the soil microbiome. Nanoparticles(NPs) hamper physicochemical properties of soil along with microbial metabolic activities within rhizospheric soils.Here in this review shed light on concentric aspects of NP-biosynthesis, types, toxicity mechanisms, accumulation within the ecosystem. However, the accrual of tiny NPs into the soil system has dramatically influenced rhizospheric activities in terms of soil properties and biogeochemical cycles. We have focussed on mechanistic pathways engrossed by microbes to deal with NPs.Also, we have elaborated the fate and behavior of NPs within soils. Besides, a piece of very scarce information on NPs-toxicity towards environment and rhizosphere communities is available. Therefore, the present review highlights ecological perspectives of nanotechnology and solutions to such implications. We have comprehend certain strategies such as avant-garde engineering methods, sustainable procedures for NP synthesis along with vatious regulatory actions to manage NP within environment. Moreover, we have devised risk management sustainable and novel strategies to utilize it in a rationalized and integrated manner. With this background, we can develop a comprehensive plan about NPs with novel insights to understand the resistance and toxicity mechanisms of NPs towards microbes. Henceforth, the orientation towards these issues would enhance the understanding of researchers for proper recommendation and promotion of nanotechnology in an optimized and sustainable manner

Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Ecological Responsibilities: An Evaluation of Pakistani University Students’ Behavioral Intentions Towards Climate Change

Rapid and devastating changes in climate and environment have affected individuals from all around the globe to indulge in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The aim of this research is to evaluate the role of students in climate change mitigation and adaptation by analyzing their behavioral intentions. We incorporated the theory of planned behavior in evaluating the environmental knowledge among university students in Pakistan. The results implicated that the attitudes, societal norms and perceived behavioral control contributes significantly in an individual’s pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Additionally, education was found to be contributing merely in building attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors. However the societal norms and individual’s perceived behavioral control were found to be less influenced by the educational background of individuals.This research provides strategic policy suggestions in face of formulating encouraging engagement in deliberative discussions, interaction with scientists, and formulation of community projects to induce education, resources and opportunities which can be beneficial in changing behaviors of individuals on a larger scale in society