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This paper examines gender dynamics in Mueenuddin's short story collection In Other Rooms, Other Wonders (2009). Using textual analysis as the method, it analyses two stories, "Provide, Provide" and "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders" to find instances where the boundaries of patriarchal gender constructs are pushed, and positive alternatives presented. The research employs Cornell's concepts of multiple masculinities, hegemonic masculinity and emphasised femininity as the main theoretical framework. Other feminist theories such as patriarchy, gender roles and intersectionality have also been utilised. The study reveals that Mueenuddin tends to destabilise the hegemonic status of masculinity at the hands of self-confident, aggressive, and ambitious women seeking to change their circumstantial reality. However, deeply entrenched patriarchal structures reclaim the space and relegate such women back to their socially defined position(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okra seed is vulnerable to loss of germination and vigor in variable storage conditions. High seed moisture contents (SMC) accelerate seed deterioration during storage thus keeping low seed moisture contents by storing seed in hermetic bags may help to retain seed longevity. Okra seed was equilibrated to four initial moisture levels including 8,10, 12 and 14% SMC. Seed was then packed and stored in traditional storage bags (Paper, cloth, polypropylene and jute bag) and hermetic Super Bag for 12 months under ambient conditions. Seed stored in hermetic Super Bag at 8 and 10% moisture contents maintained higher germination due to low seed moisture contents. Moreover, activities of α-amylases and total soluble sugars were higher while electrical conductivity of seed leachates, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reducing sugar contents were less in the seeds stored in hermetic Super Bag at 8 and 10% SMC as compared to seed stored in traditional storage bags. Hermetic storage at 14% moisture negatively influenced the seed quality. Moisture adsorption isotherms of okra seeds were developed at constant temperature of 25°C and varying levels of relative humidity from 60 to 90%. Moisture isotherms indicated no significant increase in seed moisture contents at 60 and 70% relative humidity (RH) in hermetic bags whereas a minor increase in seed moisture at 80 and 90% RH has been observed for the seeds incubated in hermetic bags. SMC significantly increased in traditional storage bags particularly in jute bag at high RH. In conclusion, storage in hermetic bags, maintain low seed moisture and high seed quality. Okra seed storage in hermetic bags at 8 and 10% SMC maintains seed longevity under ambient storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of dormancy and germination behavior is very important for effective weed management of invasive weeds on sustainable basis. This study investigated the germination and dormancy behavior of P. hysterophorus seeds under controlled conditions. P. hysterophorus seeds were evaluated in standard germination test at different alternate (day/night) temperatures (15/5 °C, 20/10 °C, 25/15 °C, 30/20 °C, and 35/25 °C). Later, dormant seeds of P. hysterophorus were buried in soil filled pots at different moisture conditions (dry, moist and fluctuating moist soil) and kept at different temperature regimes (10, 20 and 30 °C) for 150 days. The germination and dormancy behavior of P. hysterophorus of buried seed was investigated through standard seed germination test at one-month interval. Alternate temperatures showed significant effects on the germination pattern of P. hysterophorus and highest germination at 25/15 °C and lowest germination was observed at 15/5 °C. Similarly, different soil storage conditions significantly affected germination of P. hysterophorus with maximum germination was found under fluctuating soil moist conditions and less germination under dry soil conditions at different intervals of evaluation. However, storage temperature had no effect on germination response of P. hysterophorus for different storage intervals. Thus, fluctuating temperature (25/15 °C) and fluctuating moist conditions were found favorable for enhancing the germination potential of P. hysterophorus through releasing the dormancy behavior. The possible reasons for increase in germination was constant dry/wet fluctuating moisture which helped P. hysterophorus seed to release dormancy. The findings of present study may be helpful in development of timely, optimized and effective management strategies for P. hysterophorus under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological modification followed by yield stagnation of rice and wheat is a major concern of South Asian agriculture, linked with decline in soil health by excessive use of mineral fertilizers. The excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers not only depleting the soil fertility but also accelerating the environmental risks such as greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and nitrate leaching into underground water. In this context, a 2-year field experiment was established at Agronomic Research Area of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to find out the promising nutrient management strategy to modulate the phenological events of rice cv. Basmati-515 and wheat cv. MILLAT-2011 by stimulating the leaf area duration (LAD) under different tillage methods. The fertilization treatments comprised of: control (T1); recommended dose of NPK (T2); animal manure (M, T3), 100% crop stubbles incorporation (CSI, T4), 50% NPK and 50% M (T5), 50% NPK and 50% CSI (T6), 0 25% NPK with 25% M and 50% CSI (T7) and 25% NPK with 50% M and 25% CSI (T8) were randomly allocated in a split plot design under conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT) systems. The CT practices include two cultivations along with one rotavator followed by planking for rice, and three cultivations along with one rotavator followed by planking for wheat, while RT treatment includes one cultivation along with one rotavator for both crops. Results show that tillage did not significantly altered the phenological events of both rice and wheat. However, the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly induced early tillering and anthesis, and delayed the physiological maturity of rice and wheat. Further, organo-mineral treatments increased the LAD of rice by 35.12 to 49.19% and wheat by 32.28 to 50.19% relative to control. In conclusion, the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers could change the phenological events in rice and wheat by modulating the LAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]