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Crop growth models can be valuable tools for researchers, academia, extension educators, and policy makers/planners for the evaluation of sustainable and long-term husbandry practices. Determining the optimum sowing window, which can be determined using crop growth models, is imperative under changing climate conditions. Thus, the main objectives herein were to 1) assess the performance of the cropping system model-crop environment resource synthesis-maize model for hybrids and sowing dates in the spring and autumn, and 2) determine the optimum sowing window in 15 districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In the spring experiment, 3 hybrids (P-33M15, M-DK6525, and S-NK8441) were planted in the main plots and then on 5 different sowing dates (January 15th, February 5th, February 25th, March 15th, and April 5th), they were planted in the subplots. In the autumn experiment, 3 hybrids (P-30R50, M-DK6714, and S-NK6621) were planted in the main plots and then on 5 different sowing dates (June 15th, July 5th, July 25th, August 15th, and September 5th), they were planted in the subplots. Model calibration and evaluation results were better in the spring and autumn. Performance of the model was good for the grain yield in the autumn (mean percentage difference (MPD): 7.47% to 8.90%) compared to the spring (MPD: 9.42% to 11.72%). Model evaluation was good for the early sowing dates (January 15th and February 5th) (error range: 6.26% to 9.65%) compared to the delayed dates (February 25th to April 5th) (error range: 9.34 to 14.91%). In the autumn, the model showed better performance for the delayed sowing dates (February 25th and August 15th) (error range: 5.22% to 9.43%) compared to the early dates (June 15th and July 5th) (error range: 8.56% to 11.27%). The model simulated good growth, development, grain yield, and yield components in the spring and autumn and of both 2016 and 2017. For the model application simulation of data over the long-term (1980 to 2017), the optimum sowing window in the spring was January 15th to March 5th and for the autumn it was July 23rd to August 27th for the 15 districts in Punjab, Pakistan. Simulation of the sowing dates for the whole year indicated that the spring was better compared to the autumn for obtaining the maximum grain yield. The results of the model were in line with the recommendations of the agricultural extension department for the sowing window for spring and autumn maize. It is therefore suggested that farmers should complete the sowing of spring and autumn maize within the sowing window to attain a higher yield of maize in arid and semiarid areas of Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are among the multifactorial disorders that occur at higher prevalence in a population. This study aims to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with obesity, HTN and T2D individually and in the form of multimorbidity. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients in 15 private clinics of Punjab, Pakistan. A stratified random sampling technique was used to collect the data from patients with obesity, HTN and T2D or their comorbidity. A total of 1350 patients responded by completing the questionnaire. The HRQoL of these patients was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (a standardized instrument for measuring generic health status). Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Multivariate linear regression model was used to model the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. In total, 15% of patients had combined obesity, HTN and T2D; 16.5% had HTN and T2D; 13.5% had obesity and HTN and 12.8% had obesity and T2D. Only 15.8% of patients had obesity, 14.3% had HTN, and 12% had T2D. Mann Whitney-U test gave the statistically significant (p = <0.001) HRQoL VAS score55.1 (±23.2) of patients with the obesity. HRQoL VAS scores of patients with obesity were found to be higher when compared to patients with both T2D 49.8 (±15.4) and HTN 48.2 (±21). Diagnosis of one, two and three diseases showed significant results in VAS with all variables including gender (p = 0.004), educational level (p = <0.001), marital status (p<0.001), residence (p = <0.001), financial situation (p = <0.001) and monthly income (p = <0.001). The most frequently observed extremely problematic dimension was anxiety/ depression (47%) and the self-care (10%) was the least affected. Patient HRQoL is decreased by T2D, HTN, and obesity. The impact of these diseases coexisting is more detrimental to HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patient satisfaction can be used to assess the quality of services provided at pharmacies. Our aim was to determine the level of patient satisfaction with pharmacy services and related factors at community pharmacies located in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to July 2021 by administering the questionnaire to the patients using stratified random sampling method. Survey instrument comprised 4 sections including demographics, satisfaction towards provision of facilities, the provision of information, their accessibility to patients, the relationship between pharmacists and patients and the continuity of care provided. Categorical data were represented by percentages. Descriptive statistics were calculated for satisfaction scores. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to find the odds ratios. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Response rate of the survey was 92%. Only 30% of patients agreed that the pharmacist was available for counseling on their visit. About 52% agreed that the counseling time provided by pharmacist was enough. Most of the pharmacy patients (61%) trusted the pharmacist regarding any query about medicine and were satisfied with the way the pharmacist resolved issues. Mean satisfaction score of the pharmacy patients was 45.75 with a range of 25 (highly satisfied) to 66 (highly dissatisfied). Conclusion: The provision of community pharmacy services to patients was not satisfactory. Furthermore, the absence of pharmacist in the pharmacy and the lack of provision for counseling time raised concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentially hazardous element (PHE) contamination of aquifers is an issue of global concern, as this not only affects soil and plants but also exerts a negative impact on livestock. The current study assessed the extent of PHE (cadmium, copper, nickel, and lead) contamination of groundwater, soil, and forage crops in Shorkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Low concentrations of PHEs, particularly Cd and Cu, were found in drinking water which remained below detection limits. The concentrations of Ni and Pb in water samples were 0.1 and 0.06 mg L−1, respectively. Calculated risk indices showed that there was a high carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk to livestock (sheep and cow/buffalo) from the ingestion of Ni- and Pb-contaminated water. Soil irrigation with contaminated water resulted in PHE accumulation (Cd: 0.4 mg kg−1, Cu: 16.8 mg kg−1, Ni: 17.6 mg kg−1, Pb: 7.7 mg kg−1) in soil and transfer to forage crops. The potential impact of PHE contamination of the groundwater on fodder plants was estimated for animal health by calculating the average daily dose (ADD), the hazard quotient (HQ), and the cancer risk (CR). While none of the PHEs in forage plants showed any carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risk to livestock, a high exposure risk occurred from contaminated water (HQ: 12.9, CR: 0.02). This study provides baseline data for future research on the risks of PHE accumulation in livestock and their food products. Moreover, future research is warranted to fully understand the transfer of PHEs from livestock products to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leading as a management process persuades team members towards the attainment of agreed goals. A school leader is one who develops the goals of the institution by influencing the actions of other people. The study focused on the objectives as; (a) to ascertain the usefulness of heads in educational matters, (b) to relate various aspects of headship to find their effectiveness, and (c) to arrange suggestions for the better functioning of administration at the secondary level. To answer the research question, the Head teachers, the teachers, and the students of grade 10 were engaged for data collection as the population of the study. Thirty-six secondary schools were selected from three districts of South Punjab (Bahawalpur, Lodhran, and Multan). Ten students, three secondary school teachers, and one head teacher were selected randomly from the population. Three separate research tools for the head teacher, secondary school teachers, and 10th-grade students were developed to verify the effectiveness of various aspects of school administration. A total of three hundred and sixty questionnaires for secondary school students, one hundred and eight secondary school teachers, and thirty-six head teachers were distributed among the participants. The collected data were analyzed by using different statistical formulas i.e. percentage, one-way ANOVA, and Mean Score. This comparative analysis of the various aspect of school effectiveness revealed that male administrative have better understanding and performance about the different aspects of school administration than the female administrative while the results of the study further disclosed that rural school administrative had better performance than the urban administrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is sown during spring and autumn seasons in Pakistan; however, studies on inter-seasonal variability on maize productivity, agronomic and nitrogen use efficiencies (NUEs) are limited. Therefore optimization of nitrogen (N) rate and hybrids selection for each season is critical to harvest better yield in maize–maize cropping system. Two independent field experiments were conducted to optimize N rates for different hybrids to improve maize productivity and NUEs in spring and autumn seasons during 2016 and 2017. During spring season, three spring-hybrids (P-33M15, M-DK6525 and S-NK8441) and during autumn season, three autumn-hybrids (P-30R50, M-DK6714 and S-NK6621) were sown under five N levels i.e., 0, 80, 160, 240 and 320 kg ha−1. Maize yield and related traits, and NUEs were improved with each higher level of N application. Highest and lowest grain yield, agronomic and economic NUEs were recorded at 320 kg N ha−1 and without N application, respectively in both seasons. Likewise, highest grain yield and NUEs were observed by spring-hybrid P-33M15 and autumn-hybrid P-30R50, while lowest were obtained by spring hybrid S-NK8441 and autumn hybrid S-NK6621 during both years. Nonetheless, maximum net income and benefit: cost ratio was observed by spring-hybrid P-33M15 and autumn-hybrid P-30R50 at higher N level (320 kg ha−1) and maize cultivation without N was not profitable in both seasons. Maize cultivation with N application at 320 kg ha−1 seemed a viable option to get maximum productivity, economic returns and NUEs of maize–maize cropping system in irrigated arid environment of southern Punjab, Pakistan and might be for other areas having similar environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of wheat grain can impact the farmer's income and also affect human health. The interaction between the planting time and genetic information indicated a significant effect. Determining correct planting time that can exploit the result of interaction between genotypes and atmosphere that enhance the production and grain quality. The main objective of this study was to choose the more suitable planting dates that maximize the wheat production and quality of wheat grain in cotton-wheat cropping system at different locations. Four wheat cultivars were planted at November 10th, 20th, December 1st, and December 10th at three different cottonwheat system growing districts, i.e., Bahawalpur, Khanewal, and Multan during both years. Late sown crop December 10th recorded maximum protein content (16.32%), starch contents (55.24%), and gluten content (34.19%) while early sown crop showed maximum moisture content (23.33%). Cultivar ASS-2011 demonstrated maximum protein content (13.47%), moisture content (10.73%), and starch content (55.09% and gluten content (33.66%). Year-II recorded the maximum protein content 11.95% moisture content 13.91%, starch content (53.89%), and gluten content 4.90% as compared 1st year in case of wheat crop. Wheat cultivar AAS-2011 showed best results regarding quality attributes in case of the late sown condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimum sowing date and most suitable hybrid are two main adaptation strategies for maize crop for managing the unfavorable weather circumstances. The objective of this research was to determine the optimum sowing date and hybrid during spring and autumn seasons. Field trials were carried out in spring and autumn seasons during 2016 and 2017 at Agronomic Research Area, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. During spring season, three hybrids i.e., P-33M15, M-DK6525 and S-NK8441 were allocated in main plot and five sowing dates i.e., 15-January, 5- February, 25-February, 15-March and 5-April, were placed in sub plot during both years. During autumn growing season, three autumn hybrids i.e., P-30R50, MDK6714 and S-NK6621 were placed in main plot and five sowing dates i.e., 15-June, 05-July, 25-July, 15-August and 5-September, were applied in sub plot. Results showed that during spring season, hybrid P-33M15 performed well at sowing date 5- February as compared to other hybrids and sowing dates during 2016 and 2017. During autumn season, hybrid P-30R50 performed well at sowing date 25-July as compared to other hybrids and sowing dates in both years. In conclusion, for obtaining higher production, spring season is better as compared to autumn for maize crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a severe threat for productivity of sugarcane crop. Crop models have potential to quantify the climate change impacts, and management practices effects on development and productivity of sugarcane crop. These models provide simulations as a result of interaction between genotype, management, and environment. The current study was conducted with the objectives to (1) calibration, evaluation and application of CSM-CANEGRO-Sugarcane model (2) climate change assessment and make adaptation strategies for industrial (spring and autumn crops) and non-industrial (summer crop) sugarcane. Two field experiments regarding industrial sugarcane were carried out at Multan during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 and two field experiments regarding ponda chewing sugarcane (non-industrial, thick, soft and juicier sugarcane) at Vehari during 2017 and 2018. Calibration and evaluation of CSM-CANEGRO-Sugarcane model showed that all model statistical parameters were obtained under acceptable range. Model sensitivity was also evaluated against Carbon, Temperature and Water analysis for both sites. Results revealed that average temperature is increased almost 0.94 °C during baseline weather data (1980–2018), while according to different climate projections by Global Climate Models (GCMs), average temperature 3–5 °C can be increase during mid-century. So, without adaptation strategies, fresh cane yield will be decreased ranging from 15.31 to 22.57% at different GCMs during mid-century (2039–2069). Adaptation strategies; like 18–25 days earlier planting, increasing 15% N application quantity and increasing frequency of irrigation and growing heat tolerant and more growing degree days requiring varieties can compensate the negative impact of climate change in future scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, yield performance, water use efficiency (WUE) and economic returns of various establishment methods of rice were studied during 2019 and 2020 at Plant Physiology Section, Agronomic Research Institute, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan. Establishemnt methods include direct seeding in dry soil by broadcast, direct seeding in dry soil by drill, transplanting of 30 days nursery in puddled soil and transplanting of 15 days nursey in puddled soil layed out using Randomized Complete Block Design keeping three replications. Results revealed that maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (0.791), no. of kernels per panicle (168), thousand kernal weight (18.03 g) and paddy yield (4302 kg/ha) was recorded from nursery transplanted rice during both years. Similarly direct seeding in dry soil by drill also resulted into maximum chlorophyll fluorescence, no. of kernels per panicle and paddy yield. Direct seeding by broadcast method resulted into poor plant population (279), low paddy yield (3200 kg/ha) and lowest water use efficiency (1.67). Highest plant population per unit area (407) was obtained by direct seeding of rice in dry soil with drill. Higher water use efficiency (2.14) and benefit cost ratio (1:1.67) was recorded for direct seeding in dry soil by drill as compared to both 15 and 30 days transplanted nursery. Direct seeding of rice in dry soil with drill can improve the water use efficiency with maximum economic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Potato-based system phenology trends using data of 12 districts in Punjab, Pakistan. • Analyzed observed weather from Pakistan Meteorological Department from 1981 to 2018. • Correlated trend with temperature to analyze how climate affected system phenology. • SUBSTOR model used to isolate warming, management & cultivar effect on phenology. Understanding the influence of thermal trends, crop management practices, and genetics on the crop developmental stages and phases is critical to develop adaptation strategies in the face of warming trends. The specific study objectives were to determine the correlation between observed potato phenology with the trends of rising temperature, and to investigate the impacts of thermal trend, crop management practices, and changes in cultivars using a modeling approach. The study was conducted at 12 sites in Punjab, Pakistan from 1980 to 2018 using phenological observations for both the spring and autumn potato crop. For the stages observed during spring, there was an average advance of 6.2 days decade−1 for sowing, 6.0 for emergence, 3.8 for tuber initiation, and 2.0 for maturity. However, for the stages observed during autumn, there was an average delay of 5.2 days decade−1 for sowing, 5.1 for emergence, 3.3 for tuber initiation, and 2.3 for maturity. The average phase duration decreased on average by 2.4 days decade−1 for sowing to tuber initiation, 1.8 days decade−1 for tuber initiation to maturity for spring, and 4.2 days decade−1 for sowing to maturity. The average autumn phase duration decreased on average by 1.9 days decade−1 for sowing to tuber initiation, 1.0 days decade−1 for tuber initiation to maturity, and 2.9 days decade−1 for sowing to maturity. With respect to the local weather observation, the average air temperature had increased 0.8 °C decade−1 for spring and autumn from 1980 to 2018. The differences in spring and autumn phenology had a statistically significant negative correlation with the increase in temperature from 1980 to 2018. When the CSM-SUBSTOR-Potato model was used for a standard variety across locations and years, the predicted phenological stages, on average, occurred earlier due to increase in temperature from 1980 to 2018, while there was less impact on the observed phenological stages. This indicated that during the last four decade, adaptation strategies such as earlier planting for spring potato, and later planting for autumn, as well as the release of new cultivars that require more thermal time compared to the traditional cultivars have been implemented by growers have compensated for some part of temperature induced warming trends of spring and autumn potato phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]