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Nutritional status of people can be improved by enhancing zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) content in cereals used as staple mainly in poor resource countries. Zinc and Fe were applied through soil and foliage in a study to biofortify wheat grains. Foliar application of both micronutrients increased the growth and grain vigor as compared to soil application and control. Also, foliar application significantly enhanced Zn and Fe concentration in grain pre-dominantly localized in aleurone layer. Exogeneous application of Fe and Zn was found beneficial for plant growth and enhanced Fe and Zn concentrations in grain, however aleurone layer and embryonic region of the grain showed higher accumulations than that in endosperm. Therefore, understanding of physiological and molecular pathways for uptake and localization of Fe and Zn in wheat grains need to be critically examined to improve their concentration in grain to achieve the biofortification targets.

Pakistan faces challenges in both food and energy security. Indeed, extensive literature suggests that food and energy security are interdependent. While acknowledging that food security is still a primary concern for Pakistan, energy security is also a major issue. It is crucial to develop sustainable energy sources for energy production. Among sustainable sources, biomass is a promising source that can be effectively used for environmentally friendly energy production. This article addresses the energy issues and potential solutions using crop residues, non-edible energy crops, and animal and municipal solid wastes in Pakistan. The current research challenges, relevant industries, opportunities, and the future share of energy production derived from renewable and sustainable sources are emphasized with a focus on the potential of biomass energy. This article shows that Pakistan has considerable potential to develop bioenergy crops on marginal lands without compromising food security, with considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits. Pakistan has vast biomass resources, including crop residues, animal waste, municipal solid waste, and forest residues, which collectively produce 230 billion tons of biomass annually. There are about 72 million bovines (cows and buffaloes), 81 million tons per year of crop biomass, and about 785 million birds in poultry farms across the country. Land that is currently non-productive could be used for energy crops, and this has the potential to produce 2500–3000 MW of energy. The utilization of waste cooking oil and fats is the most economically feasible option for obtaining biodiesel due to its easy and almost free availability in Pakistan. Systematic management is needed to collect this huge quantity of waste cooking oil and efficiently convert it to biodiesel. Similarly, molasses may be a promising source for bioethanol production. Furthermore, this study suggests that Pakistan’s energy policies need to be amended to ensure that the energy supply meets the demand. In the future, massive energy projects on biomass-based bioenergy need to be implemented in Pakistan. To achieve its bioenergy potential, Pakistan needs to develop incentive-based bioenergy technologies. Moreover, this objective can only be achieved in the country by initiating R&D projects to promote advanced biomass conversion technologies, such as biogas plants and combustion systems.

Intensive agricultural practices lower soil fertility, particularly micronutrients which are rarely applied to soils as chemical fertilizers. Micronutrient deficiency in soils results in inferior product quality and micronutrient malnutrition in humans. Application of compost to soil may improve crop yields and quality by enhancing macro- and micronutrients availability, enhancing soil microbial population, and improving soil physicochemical properties. Poultry mortality compost (PMC) was prepared by decomposing dead poultry birds with poultry litter in an aerated bin through indigenous microbial populations. The prepared PMC was used as an amendment in three field experiments during 2017–18 and 2018–19 to investigate the effect on yield and nutritional quality of potato, carrot, and radish. In these field trials, two compost levels, i.e., 1250 kg ha-1 (PMC1) and 1850 kg ha-1 (PMC2) were compared with the control (no compost application). The results revealed a 10–25% increase in root or tuber yield at PMC2 compared to that in the control. A substantial increase in Zn, Fe, and Mn concentrations in vegetable root/tubers was also observed. Organic matter content and microbial biomass were improved in the soil with PMC application leading to better soil health and better nutrient availability. These studies led us to conclude that the application of PMC not only enhances the vegetable yield but also biofortifies vegetables with micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, and Mn extending agricultural sustainability and eliminating micronutrient malnutrition in humans.

Heavy losses by dark leaf spot disease in oilseedBrassicahave incited research towards identifying sources of genetic tolerance against causal pathogen,Alternaria brassicicola. Several morpho-molecular parameters were evaluated to test the performance of field mustard and rapeseed genotypes under artificial inoculation with this pathogen. DuringBrassica-Alternariainteraction, physio-biochemical defense response was witnessed in tolerant genotypes. Two tolerant genotypes (one for field mustard and one for rapeseed), i.e., EC250407 and EC1494 were identified. However, necrotic lesions were more prominent in susceptible genotypes with minimum chlorophyll (chlorophylla, chlorophyllband total chlorophyll) and carotenoids contents. Contrary to photosynthetic pigments, increase in total soluble protein (TSP) contents was observed with disease progression in susceptible genotypes. Tolerant genotypes of field mustard and rapeseed displayed remarkable increase in the activities of redox enzyme in infected leaves with least yield loss (6.47% and 5.74%) and disease severity index (DSI) of 2.9 and 2.1, respectively. However, yield/plant showed close association with other morpho-yield parameters, photosynthetic pigments and redox enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD)) activities except silique length and TSP. Based on the results of morpho-biochemical analyses, redox enzymes and morphological parameters; their interplay is proposed to determine the tolerance outcome of theBrassica-A.brassicicolainteraction.

Two oilseed rape genotypes (Jiu-Er-13XI and Zheyou-50), differing in seed oil content, were subjected to cadmium (Cd) stress in hydroponic experiment. Genotypic differences were observed in terms of tolerance to Cd exposure. Cd treatment negatively affected both genotypes, but the effects were more devastating in Jiu-Er-13XI (low seed oil content) than in Zheyou-50 (high seed oil content). Jiu-Er-13XI accumulated more reactive oxygen species (ROS), which destroyed chloroplast structure and decreased photosynthetic pigments, than Zheyou-50. Total fatty acids, especially 18:2 and 18:3, severely decreased as suggested by increase in MDA content. Roots and shoots of Jiu-Er-13XI plants accumulated more Cd content, while less amount of tocopherol (Toc) was observed under Cd stress, than Zheyou-50. Conversely, Zheyou-50 was less affected by Cd stress than its counterpart. It accumulated comparatively less amount of Cd in roots and shoots, along with reduced accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ROS under Cd stress, than Jiu-Er-13XI. Further, the level of Toc, especially α-Tocopherol, was much higher in Zheyou-50 than in Jiu-Er-13XI, which was also supported by high expression of Toc biosynthesis genes in Zheyou-50 during early hours. Toc not only restricted the absorption of Cd by roots and its translocation to shoot but also scavenged the ROS generated during oxidative stresses. The low level of MDA shows that polyunsaturated fatty acids in chloroplast membranes remained intact. In the present study the tolerance of Zheyou-50 to Cd stress, over Jiu-Er-13XI, is attributed to the activities of Toc. This study shows that plants with high seed oil content are tolerant to Cd stress due to high production of Toc.

Nutritional status of people can be improved by enhancing zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) content in cereals used as staple mainly in poor resource countries. Zinc and Fe were applied through soil and foliage in a study to biofortify wheat grains. Foliar application of both micronutrients increased the growth and grain vigor as compared to soil application and control. Also, foliar application significantly enhanced Zn and Fe concentration in grain pre-dominantly localized in aleurone layer. Exogeneous application of Fe and Zn was found beneficial for plant growth and enhanced Fe and Zn concentrations in grain, however aleurone layer and embryonic region of the grain showed higher accumulations than that in endosperm. Therefore, understanding of physiological and molecular pathways for uptake and localization of Fe and Zn in wheat grains need to be critically examined to improve their concentration in grain to achieve the biofortification targets.

Current research was planned to study the heritability, correlation, genetic advance and behavior of different characters in segregating population of upland cotton. The material consists of segregating population of fourteen crosses along with their seven parents. Parental varieties and segregating population show significant difference for all traits under study. Plant height, GOT, bolls/plant and yield/plant show high value of heritability ranging from 78.9 to 27.3. Genotypic correlation of yield with plant height was 0.698, bolls/plant was 0.930, boll weight was 0.311, GOT was 0.692, fiber strength was 0.548 and fiber fineness was 0.435. Phenotypic correlation of yield/plant with plant height was 0.520, boll weight was 0.352, bolls/plant was 0.894, GOT was 0.476, fiber fineness was 0.22 and fiber strength was 0.359. It can be suggested that plant height, GOT and bolls/plant are important yield/plant contributing traits as they are positively correlated with yield/plant. High value for bolls/plant, GOT and yield/plant was recorded in BH-167 × V4 and CIM-534 × V4, which can be utilized in future breeding program.

Drought is an important factor which limits growth of sugarcane. To elucidate the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of tolerance, a pot experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Institute, Kaiyuan, China. Two genotypes (Yuetang 93-159-sensitive and Yunzhe 05-51-tolerant), were subjected to three treatments; 70±5% (control), 50±5% (moderate drought) and 30±5% (severe drought) of soil field capacity. The results demonstrated that drought induced considerable decline in morpho-physiological, biochemical and anatomical parameters of both genotypes, with more pronounced detrimental effects on Yuetang 93–159 than on Yunzhe 05–51. Yunzhe 05–51 exhibited more tolerance by showing higher dry biomass, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities. Compared with Yuetang 93–159, Yunzhe 05–51 exhibited higher soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline contents under stress. Yunzhe 05–51 illustrated comparatively well-composed chloroplast structure under drought stress. It is concluded that the tolerance of Yunzhe 05–51 was attributed to improved antioxidant activities, osmolyte accumulation and enhanced photosynthesis. These findings may provide valuable information for future studies on molecular mechanism of tolerance.

The fast fruiting and early maturing cotton varieties demand higher potassium (K) supply to achieve full yield potential. The supplemental foliar application of K may enhance the efficacy of soil applied basal dose of K. The main objective of this study was to quantify the impact of foliar application of KNO3 alone and in combination with soil applied K on cotton yield and lint quality. The treatments included control (no K application), four foliar sprays of 2% KNO3, 100 kg K2O ha−1 to soil, 200 kg K2O ha−1 to soil, combination of 100 kg K2O ha−1 to soil + four foliar sprays of 2% KNO3, and combination of 200 kg K2O ha−1 to soil + four foliar sprays of 2% KNO3. The results revealed that foliar and basal-applied K in alone and in different combinations significantly improved the plant morphology, seed cotton yield, boll characteristics and K concentrations in various plant parts. The K concentration in vegetative and boll components was improved with the higher K application rate. On overall basis, a yield benefit of 406 and 432.5 kg ha−1 was achieved with foliar spray in combination with 100 and 200 kg K2O ha−1 compared to their respective sole soil application. Non-significant differences for ginning out turn (GOT), staple length, strength, micronaire and uniformity index due to various K application methods indicate that K fertilization does not improve the fiber quality and GOT when soil has adequate K levels. It is concluded that foliar K application should be combined with basal K applications to achieve the highest returns from cotton grown on K-deficient soils.

Drought and salt stress negatively affect soil fertility and plant growth. Application of biochar, carbon-rich material developed from combustion of biomass under no or limited oxygen supply, ameliorates the negative effects of drought and salt stress on plants. The biochar application increased the plant growth, biomass, and yield under either drought and/or salt stress and also increased photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and modified gas exchange characteristics in drought and salt-stressed plants. Under drought stress, biochar increased the water holding capacity of soil and improved the physical and biological properties of soils. Under salt stress, biochar decreased Na+ uptake, while increased K+ uptake by plants. Biochar-mediated increase in salt tolerance of plants is primarily associated with improvement in soil properties, thus increasing plant water status, reduction of Na+ uptake, increasing uptake of minerals, and regulation of stomatal conductance and phytohormones. This review highlights both the potential of biochar in alleviating drought and salt stress in plants and future prospect of the role of biochar under drought and salt stress in plants.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid. Serious concerns have been raised in literature owing to its potential toxicity towards living beings. The metalloid causes various water- and food-borne diseases. Among food crops, rice contains the highest concentrations of As. Consuming As-contaminated rice results in serious health issues. Arsenic concentration in rice is governed by various factors in the rhizosphere such as availability and concentration of various mineral nutrients (iron, phosphate, sulfur and silicon) in soil solution, soil oxidation/reduction status, inter-conversion between organic and inorganic As compounds. Agronomic and civil engineering methods can be adopted to decrease As accumulation in rice. Agronomic methods such as improving soil porosity/aeration by irrigation management or creating the conditions favorable for As-precipitate formation, and decreasing As uptake and translocation by adding a inorganic nutrients that compete with As are easy and cost effective techniques at field scale. This review focuses on the factors regulating and competing As in soil-plant system and As accumulation in rice grains. Therefore, it is suggested that judicious use of water, management of soil, antagonistic effects of various inorganic plant-nutrients to As should be considered in rice cultivated areas to mitigate the building up of As in human food chain and with minimum negative impact to the environment.

Exhaustive crops such as cotton require potassium (K) in copious amounts as compared to other crops. High yielding cultivars in cotton-wheat cropping system, have further increased its demand in cotton growing areas of Pakistan. As cotton is grown in arid and semiarid areas, therefore often prone to water deficiency. The reproductive growth particularly flowering and boll setting are highly sensitive to low soil water potentials, where enough K supply can play a vital role. In this two-year field studies, three cultivars (early, mid and late maturing) were cultivated at two K fertilizer levels 100, 200 kg K ha−1 along with control with no K fertilizer application at two irrigation levels. In first irrigation level, water was applied as per full irrigation schedule, while in water deficit irrigation water was applied at deficit irrigation schedule started after flowering till harvesting. It has been revealed that K application has impact on boll setting as well as seed cotton yield, however early and mid-maturing cultivars are more responsive to K fertilization. Furthermore, irrigation level had significant impact against K fertilization and relatively better response was observed in deficit irrigation as compared to full irrigation. Nevertheless, fiber quality parameters were unaffected by K fertilization. Considering the best benefit cost ratio under water deficiency, it is concluded that 100 kg K2O ha−1 should be applied at the time of seed bed preparation for economical seed-cotton yield of early maturing Bt cotton.

To curb the increasing demand for nitrogenous fertilizers, it is imperative to develop new cultivars with comparatively greater nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Nonetheless, so far very meager information is available concerning the variances among barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties for their response to nitrogen deprivation. The current study was carried out to explore the potential of barley genotypes for higher NUE. A hydroponic experiment was conducted at seedling stage to compare the performance of four barley genotypes, ZD9 and XZ149 (with higher NUE) and HXRL and XZ56 (with lower NUE) in response to low (0.1 mM) and normal nitrogen (2 mM) levels. Under low N, all the genotypes expressed less number of tillers, decreased soluble proteins, chlorophyll and N concentrations in both roots and shoots, in comparison with normal N supply. However, significant differences were found among the genotypes. The genotypes with high NUE (ZD9 and XZ149) showed higher N concentration, increased number of tillers, improved chlorophyll and soluble proteins in both roots and shoots as compared to the inefficient ones (HXRL and XZ56). Furthermore, nitrate transporter gene (NRT2.1) showed higher expression under low N, both in roots and leaves of N efficient genotypes, as compared to the N inefficient ones. However, N assimilatory genes (GS1 and GS2) showed higher expression under normal and low N level, in leaves and roots respectively. The outcome of the study revealed that genotypes with higher NUE (ZD9 and XZ149) performed better under reduced N supply, and may require relatively less N fertilizer for normal growth and development, as compared to those with lower NUE. The study also revealed a time-specific expression pattern of studied genes, indicating the duration of low N stress. The current study suggested that future work must involve the time course as a key factor while studying expression patterns of these genes to better understand the genetic basis of low-N tolerance.

Nitrogen is indispensable for highly productive agriculture. A number of sources supply nitrogen to growing crops. These sources include synthetic fertilizers, atmospheric deposition and fixation by soil microorganisms, and manures. It is estimated that about half of the total nitrogen fertilizers are applied to three cereals, namely, wheat, rice, and maize. However, only 33% of the total nitrogen applied could be converted to harvestable yields. Most of the nitrogen applied is lost to the environment, which contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. The nitrogen losses have huge impact on environmental pollution and farm economics. Despite grave concerns, the increase in nitrogen use would probably continue to meet the food demands of the growing population. We have analyzed different approaches used to study the global trends for nitrogen use and nitrogen productivities for three major cereals, i.e., wheat, rice, and maize. These approaches include total N input, use of fertilizer N, N use efficiencies and agronomic efficiency for N, apparent N recovery, N surplus, and partial factor productivity for N. Additionally, we have also discussed the importance of development of nitrogen dilution curves for cereals under different environmental conditions and at regional and global scales. Use of these N performance indicators could help in improving the N productivities in cereals at regional, national, and global levels. We have explored the possible routes of N loss and modern agronomic techniques to improve nitrogen use efficiencies in cereal production systems.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the interactive effect of salinity (125 mM) and varying concentrations of boron (B) (2, 4 and 6 mM) on the growth and biochemical attributes of wheat. Results showed that application of 4 and 6 mM B along with 125 mM NaCl significantly declined plant biomass and leaf length. The concentration of B in plant leaves was significantly lower in treatments where salinity and B were applied together as compared to individual applications of 2, 4 and 6 mM B. The membrane permeability and protein concentration were significantly increased by the combined application of NaCl and B, whereas the chlorophyll pigments were not influenced. The phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid concentrations were reduced with the individual applied 6 mM B and when combined with application of 125 mM NaCl + 6 mM B. The concentration of Milondialdehyde (MDA) gradually increased by increasing B application and maximum was at the highest level of B and NaCl stress. It is concluded that salinity worsens the deteriorating effect of boron toxicity on wheat growth. © 2016 Friends Science Publishers

Increasing resource-use efficiency is of prime importance in sustainable agriculture. A field study was carried out to improve nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) of three C4 summer cereals, i.e. Maize, millet, and sorghum, under an irrigated arid environment. The results showed that among various cultivars of cereals, cultivars Pearl (maize), 18 BY (millet), and Jumbo (sorghum) produced the highest aboveground total dry matters and grain yields. The highest NUE and RUE were obtained by splitting the nitrogen dose 3 times, i.e. At sowing and at first and second irrigation. The NUE for maize, millet, and sorghum varied from 30.97 to 32.97, 21.34 to 23.32, and 17.39 to 20.22 kg kg-1, respectively. RUE ranged from 1.14 to 1.47, 0.85 to 1.08, and 0.91 to 1.13 g MJ-1 for maize, millet, and sorghum crops, respectively. Maximum resource-use efficiency was achieved by 3 splits, while the minimum was obtained in the control group. It is inferred from this study that those varieties of C4 summer cereals may be commercially grown that are more efficient in utilizing the available resources for harnessing greater NUE as well as RUE under an irrigated arid environment.

Plant hormones are considered to play an important role in plant adaptation to drought and salt stress. The objective of the study was to investigate the changes in endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) in relation to differences in the salt resistance of maize genotypes. Two maize genotypes (SR 03 and Across 8023) were compared for changes in water relations, growth and tissue JA levels in response to 100 mM NaCl. Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot growth of both genotypes; however, SR 03 exhibited significantly less reduction in relative shoot fresh weight than Across 8023. Both genotypes showed an identical response to salt stress regarding plant water relations; therefore, genotypic differences in the salt resistance could not be attributed to changes in shoot turgor and these results were further confirmed by the response of both genotypes under equiosmotic stress (� 0.49 MPa) of either 100 mM NaCl or PEG-6000. GC-MS/MS analysis showed that salt stress did not alter shoot JA levels of both genotypes, however significantly increased the root JA levels of Across 8023. In contrast, root JA levels of salt-resistant SR 03 did not change by salt stress. Increase in root JA levels in response to stress treatments does not coincide with the growth inhibition of shoot in Across 8023. In contrast, both PEG and NaCl did not change the JA concentrations in both root and shoot tissues of SR 03. Growth assays with maize seedlings showed that JA supply in root medium inhibits shoot extension growth and both maize genotypes were sensitive to the inhibitory effects of JA. These results suggest that maize genotypes differ in JA accumulation during the first phase of salt stress and JA may indirectly be involved in leaf growth inhibition of the salt-sensitive genotype. In addition, our results also showed that treatment of salt-stressed plants with exogenous JA improved the Na + exclusion by decreasing the Na + uptake at the root surface.

Cotton productivity is severely hampering by various diseases and insect pests especially cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV) worldwide. Losses caused by CLCV are far more than any other factor affecting cotton productivity. Growing of early and resistant genotypes is of vital significance in alleviating the adversities of these pests in crop plants. The current field trial was conducted at Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan, Pakistan, to investigate the role of varying sowing dates in managing the CLCV infestation on different elite cotton genotypes. The crop was sown on five different dates i.e. D1= 15th April, D2 = 1st May, D3 = 15th May, D4 = 1st June and D5 = 15th June and three different elite cotton genotypes, i.e. V1= CIM-612, V2 = CIM-591 and V3 = CIM-573 to optimize a suitable sowing date and to screen out high productive and tolerant genotype against the CLCV. Seeds were drilled manually on finely crafted seedbed by using single row hand drill keeping seeding density of 20 kg ha-1 and inter row spacing of 75cm. CLCV severely hampered the crop performance by delayed planting of cotton from 15th April, while increased the chances of disease incidence. It is concluded that early sowing of all tested genotypes especially CIM-592 reduces the problem of CLCV and enhanced cotton productivity.

Irrigation of arable land with contaminated sewage waters leads to the accumulation of trace metals in soils with subsequent phyto-/zootoxic consequences. In this study, biochar derived from cotton sticks was used to amend an agricultural silt-loam soil that had been previously irrigated with trace metal contaminated sewage waters. Metal accumulation and toxicity to spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata) was investigated by measuring concentrations of Cd and Ni in plant tissues and various photosynthetic and biochemical activities of plants. Positive impacts of biochar on both spinach and fenugreek were observed in terms of biomass production that increased from 29% to 36% in case of spinach, while for fenugreek this increase was 32% to 36%. In the control treatment there was an increase in malondialdihyde, soluble sugar, and ascorbic acid contents, indicating heavy metal stress. Biochar applications increased soluble proteins and amino acids in plants and reduced the uptake of Cd from 5.42 mg kg−1 at control to 3.45 mg kg−1 at 5% biochar amended soil and Ni (13.8 mg kg−1 to 7.3 mg kg−1 at 5% biochar) by the spinach plants. In fenugreek, the Cd was reduced from 7.72 mg kg−1 to 3.88 mg kg−1 and reduction in Ni was from 15.45 mg kg−1 to 9.46 mg kg−1 at 5% biochar treated soil, reducing the possibility of transfer up the food chain. This study demonstrates that the use of biochar made from cotton-sticks, as an amendment to arable soils that have received contaminated irrigation water, could improve plant growth and decrease Cd and Ni uptake to crops, alleviating some of the negative impacts of using sewage waters on arable land.

Successful weed control in cotton crop is an imperative as weeds not only reduce the cotton production but also deteriorate the lint quality and harbor insect pest. Thus a field study was carried out to evaluate the various weed control strategies under different irrigation systems. Pendimethlin (pre-emergence), S-metolachlor (pre-emergence), glyphosate (post emergence) were used alone or in combination as chemical weedicides along with mechanical weeding under drip and furrow irrigation systems. Results showed that all the weed control treatments with drip irrigation significantly decrease weed density compared with weed control treatments where watering was practiced through furrow irrigation method. However, combined application of pendimethalin with glyphosate and S-metolachlor has significantly reduced the weed density. This combination also resulted in improved bolls per plant, boll weight, sympodial branches, seed cotton yield, ginning out turn, seed index, lint index and water use efficiency. These parameters were also improved under drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation system. In a nutshell it can be concluded that combination of post and pre-emergence herbicides improved the cotton lint yield and water productivity which can be further improved by adopting drip irrigation as appropriate irrigation system. RESUMO O controle bem sucedido de plantas daninhas na cultura do algodão é imperativo, pois elas não só reduzem a produção do algodão, como também destroem a qualidade da fibra e incentivam a praga de insetos. Portanto, um estudo de campo foi realizado para avaliar as várias estratégias de controle de plantas daninhas sob diferentes sistemas de irrigação. Pendimethalin (préemergência), S-metolachlor (pré-emergência) e glyphosate (pós-emergência) foram utilizados isoladamente ou em combinação com pesticidas químicos, juntamente com capina mecânica, em sistemas de irrigação de gotejamento e de sulco. Os resultados mostraram que todos os tratamentos de controle de plantas daninhas com irrigação por gotejamento diminuíram significativamente a densidade dessas plantas, em comparação com os tratamentos de controle em que a rega foi realizada através do método de irrigação por sulcos. No entanto, a aplicação combinada de pendimethalin com glyphosate e S-metolachlor reduziu significativamente a densidade de plantas daninhas. Essa combinação também resultou em melhoria de cápsulas por planta, peso da cápsula, ramos simpodiais, rendimento de algodão em caroço, descaroçamento, índice de sementes, índice de fiapos e eficiência do uso da água. Esses parâmetros também foram melhorados sob irrigação por gotejamento, em comparação com sulco. Em resumo, podese concluir que a combinação de pós e pré-emergência de herbicidas melhora o rendimento de fibra de algodão e produtividade da água, o que pode ainda ser melhorado se o sistema de irrigação por gotejamento for adotado adequadamente.

Nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) are the two major yield-limiting factors of flooded rice cultivation systems. Both nutrients interact and affect availability of the other in alkaline calcareous soils. In order to evaluate the interactive effects of N and Zn on yield and quality of Basmati rice, a field study was conducted at Sheikhupura (Site I) and Sargodha (Site II), Pakistan. Nitrogen treatments (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg/ha) were kept in main blocks while zinc levels (0, 8, 10, 12 and 14 kg/ha) were kept in sub blocks. The main effects of N and Zn levels were significant for grain yield and yield attributes. N and Zn interaction significantly improved the grain yield, yield components and all kernel quality parameters, except kernel amylose contents. Combined application of 120 kg N/ha and 14 kg Zn/ha produced the maximum grain yields at both sites (6.12 and 5.78 t/ha). This combination also yielded the maximum kernel lengths and widths, water absorption ratio and kernel protein contents. There was a significant positive correlation between grain yield and total dry matter, panicle-bearing tillers, spikelets panicle, grain weight, and harvest index. Application of 160 kg N/ha was detrimental to yield and quality attributes and reduced the agronomic efficiency of N use at both sites. Site comparison showed that soil pH and soil nutrient contents play a significant role in determination of the optimum nitrogen and zinc fertilizer doses for maximum yields.

Irrigation water is the basic resource to exploit the potential of cotton crop under an arid or a semi-arid environment. Under limited water conditions, various compatible solutes like glycinebetaine are being used to ameliorate the drought stress. Exogenous application of glycinebetaine (GB): GB1 (100 mg L−1), GB0 (no application) was done in adequate water (DS0) and in drought stress condition (DS1) at arid environment during the growing seasons of years 2009 and 2010. Results demonstrated that application of GB improved the physiological processes of crop leading to better crop performance. Exogenous application of GB increased the drought tolerance with remarkable improvement in photosynthetic process and exhibited higher growth and yield. It was further noted that this technique was economically sustained; predicted higher radiation and water-use-efficiency; and can be applied in limited water condition to avoid yield losses.

Proper orientation of plants in the field and management of soil moisture for appropriate utilization of land, water and environmental resources plays a significant role in the optimum development and functioning of vital plant organs. A two factor field experiment was conducted for two consecutive crop growth seasons viz. 2006–07 and 2007–08 at Research and Demonstration Farm, Regional Agricultural Economic Development Centre (RAEDC), Vehari, Pakistan to make a comparison of four different planting geometries viz. planting in 22 cm apart rows under conventional, minimum and zero tillage, respectively and planting in 11 cm apart rows under conventional tillage system. Wheat cultivar, Inqlab-91 was planted late in December. Crop was subjected to five irrigation levels in which irrigation was applied equivalent to 120%, 100%, 80%, 60% or 40% of ETo. Lower soil bulk density and penetration resistances at 10–20 cm soil depth were recorded with conventional tillage with either narrow or wider row spacing as compared to other planting geometries. The maximum values for LAI, LAD, TDM, productive tillers (m−2), 1000-grain weight and grain yield were recorded with planting geometry having 11 cm apart rows under conventional tillage system along with irrigation level of 120% ETo that remained statistically at par with the same planting geometry subjected to the irrigation regime of 100% ETo. This planting geometry also resulted in minimum weed fresh biomass. It is concluded that late planted wheat crop planted in 11 cm wide rows under conventional tillage irrigated @ 100% ETo may serve as an appropriate technology for enhancing the wheat productivity of late sown wheat crop under limited water supplies.

Arable soils are frequently subjected to contamination with copper as the consequence of imbalanced fertilization with manure and organic fertilizers and/or extensive use of copper-containing fungicides. In the present study, the exposure of Stone-head cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. capitata) to elevated Cu2+ levels resulted in leaf chlorosis and lesser biomass yield at ≥ 2 µM. Root nitrate content was not statistically affected by Cu2+ levels, although it was substantially decreased at ≥ 5 µM Cu2+ in the shoot. The decrease in nitrate contents can be related to lower nitrate uptake rates because of growth inhibition by Cu-toxicity. Shoot sulfate content increased strongly at ≥ 2 µM Cu2+ indicating an increase in demand for sulfur under Cu stress. Furthermore, at ≥ 2 µM concentration, concentration of water-soluble non-protein thiol increased markedly in the roots and to a smaller level in the shoot. When exposed to elevated concentrations of Cu2+ the improved sulfate and water-soluble non-protein thiols need further studies for the evaluation of their direct relation with the synthesis of metal-chelating compounds (i.e. phytochelatins).

Irrigation water is vital and most limiting input in arid agriculture. This study evaluates the late sown wheat crop under various agro-management practices for enhancing the crop productivity in water scarce area. Results exhibited that better leaf water relations expressed in terms of an improvement in the leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential, stomatal conductance and relative water content of flag leaf as well as higher rates of transpiration and net COassimilation were recorded with the planting technique of seed spreading augmented with furrows. This planting technique also expressed higher number of productive tillers, 1000grain weight and grain yield whereas lower soil penetration resistance as compared to other planting treatments. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was achieved with the irrigation regime of 80% (evapotranspiration) ETo while in case of planting techniques, seed spreading augmented with furrows expressed the maximum values of WUE. The highest grain yield was recorded with flat sowing subjected to the irrigation equivalent to 100% reference evapotranspiration (100% ETo) which was almost similar with seed spreading augmented with furrows at 80% ETo. Under deficit irrigation regimes (80 and 60% ETo), seed spreading augmented with furrows performed better than the other two planting techniques

Self-medication is a common incidence in the world today. This study aims to evaluate self-medication among university students of Multan, Pakistan. This randomized cross sectional study was carried out in Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan during December 2015- January 216. A sample size of 200 students was randomly selected. Response rate was 90% (n=182).The prevalence of self-medication among the students was determined to be 83%. There was difference in perception of pharmacy students and students of other professions. Most common condition in which students did self-medication was headache (49.66%; n=75). Students also showed tendency of self-medication in case of herbal and essential oil products (46.35%). Awareness concerning insecurity and benefits of self-medication must be spread among students to avoid the complications of self-medication.

Overuse of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, a crucial productivity factor in world cropping systems, is detrimental to the sustainability of crop production from an economic and environmental perspective. Mean yield, N fertilizer use, partial factor productivity (PFP) of N, N use efficiency (NUE) and N surplus in wheat, cotton and rice production in Pakistan, which account for 75% of total national fertilizer N use, were compared with those for the top producer countries for 2014. Pakistan was among the top four in terms of N use but had low mean yields, with the lowest PFP and NUE and highest N surplus. During 1961–2014 in Pakistan, N fertilizer use and N surplus grew at a much faster pace than mean yields; however, PFP and NUE continued to decline to much lower levels. The great potential for Pakistan to increase NUE lies in agronomic practices other than increasing N fertilization, such as balanced crop nutrition, irrigation management, inclusion of legumes in crop rotations, precision in-season N management and the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers, as is the case for many other parts of the world. Nitrogen is critical to crop production but its overuse challenges sustainability. This study finds that, despite intense and growing nitrogenous fertilizer use, Pakistan’s crop yields have risen much more slowly than expected.