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In this study modified cellulose based adsorbent was prepared from Populus nigra plant, and used for elimination of metaldehyde (herbicide) from model waste water. The adsorbent was characterized through analytical technique such as FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD for structural adsorption related parameters. The results of SEM showed the suitability of the material to be used as adsorbent and FTIR showed successful crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol into cellulose structure. In order to get maximum reclamation benefits from adsorbent it was subjected to a number of tests evaluating the effect of metaldehyde concentration, sorbent dose, contact time, initial pH of solution and temperature. The maximum removal of 70 % was achieved under conditions of 80 mg/L metaldehyde concentration, 60 min contact time, pH of 8, 0.08 g sorbent dosage, and room temperature (25 °C). The Langmuir isotherm model with correlation coefficients of 0.9855 and maximum adsorption capacity recorded was 8.32 mg/g, while excellent agreement was shown by kinetic data with pseudo second order kinetic model with R2 = 0.9876. Thermodynamic study indicated enthalpy change (ΔH° = −129 kJ/mol) to be negative, entropy change (ΔS° = 161.7 j/mol) positive, and the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) as negative showing that the process to be exothermic and feasible/spontaneous with an increase of randomness at solid liquid interface. The finding indicated that modified cellulose could be used as an efficient adsorbent for removal of metaldehyde from model waste water. However, further validation with other pollutants will be helpful in checking reproducibility of the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method, for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles that are eco-friendly by means of mixed reductants method, has been developed. The combined extract of Mentha viridis plant and Prunus domestica gum were used as reducing agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles of the size less than 40 nm in diameter. The effect of time and concentration on the formation of silver nanoparticles were also monitored. The silver nanoparticles formed were verified by surface Plasmon spectra using single and double beam UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The XRD technique and scanning electron microscopy were performed to analyze the crystalline structure, crystallite size and morphology. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested against different bacterial and fungus strains. The silver nanoparticles showed good inhibition in antimicrobial study and low MIC for bacterial strains. The antioxidant assay was performed to check the scavenging activity. In DPPH, the silver nanoparticles showed good scavenging activity and were found close to that of ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have synthesized conducting polymer nanocomposites consist of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), graphene, and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) emulsion. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by UV/Vis, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and SEM techniques. SEM images showed that AgNPs and graphene sheets are well dispersed in the PVAc matrix. The electrical conductivities of the nanocomposites were examined using the impedance analyzer instrument. It was ascertained that polymer composite containing silver nanoparticles and graphene exhibit higher conductivities. The PVAc-AgNPs/Graphene nanocomposite was also used as potential conducting materials for humidity measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-farm research was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) and compost (C) on yield and yield components of spring maize (Zea maysL.) under conventional and deep tillage system (T) at the research farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, during spring 2013. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement, using three replications. Three compost levels (0, 1, and 2 t ha−1) and two tillage systems (conventional and deep tillage) were allotted to the main plot, whereas N levels (60, 90, 120, and 150 kg N ha−1) were allotted to subplots in the form of urea. Nitrogen and compost levels had significantly affected all the parameters. Plots treated with 150 kg N ha−1increased ear length (31 cm), grains ear−1(413), thousand-grain weight (240.2 g), grain yield (3097 kg ha−1), straw yield (9294 kg ha−1), harvest index (24.7 percent), and shelling percentage (81.7 percent). Compost applied at 2 t ha−1increased ear length (32 cm), grains ear−1(430), thousand-grain weight (242.3 g), grain yield (2974 kg ha−1), straw yield (8984 kg ha−1), harvest index (24.6 percent), and shelling percentage (83.2 percent). Tillage system had significant effect on all parameters except ear length and harvest index. Deep tillage system produced more grains ear−1(365), thousand-grain weight (233.3 g), grain yield (2630 kg ha−1), straw yield (8549 kg ha−1), and shelling percentage (79.6 percent). It was concluded from the results that application of 120 kg N ha−1 + 2 C t ha−1under a deep tillage system could improve spring maize yield and yield-contributing traits under semi-arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of different tillage practices on physical properties of a silty clay loam soil under irrigated wheat in a semi-arid environment, a field experiment was conducted at the research farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during 2009-10 and 2010-2011, The tillage practices consisted of five treatments i.e. tine cultivator twice (TC-2), chisels plow (CR), moldboard plow (MR), disk plow (DR) and tine cultivator once (TCR), each followed by a rotavator except the first treatment. Soil moisture content, bulk density and soil penetration resistances were recorded. The results showed that tillage practices had significant (p < 0.05) effect on soil moisture content, soil penetration resistance and bulk density at both soil depths (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm). The highest soil moisture content and lowest bulk density or soil penetration resistance were recorded for soil tilled with chisel plow or moldboard plow at both soil depths. Soil physical conditions were generally improved with time as moisture conservation in soil increased while soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance decreased at both soil depths in second year as compared to first year of study. These results suggested that deep tillage practices (chisel plow, moldboard plow) performed better than shallow tillage practices (tine cultivator), and hence is recommended to improve soil moisture conservation and reduce both soil bulk density and penetration resistance under semi-arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted at the research farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, to study the effect of tillage practices and sowing methods on emergence, number of tillers, plant height, spike length,and harvest index of wheat under Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement replicated fourtimes. Tillage practices consisted of Tine Cultivator twice (TC-2), Chisel plow followed by rotavator (CR), Mouldboard plow followed by rotavator (MR), Disc plow followed by rotavator (DR) and Tine Cultivator followed by rotavator(TCR) assigned to main plots, while sowing methods included broadcast (BC) and drilling, (Single box seed drill (SD) and Combined drill (CD) assigned to sub plots. Statistical analysis of the two year data revealed that tillage practices had significant effect on number of tillers, and non significant effect on emergence, plant height, spike length and harvest index. Similarly the effect of sowing methods was significant for emergence, number of tillers, spike length and harvest index. The data revealed that maximum emergence m-2 number of tillersm-2 and harvest index was recorded in the plots tilled with tillage implements followed by rotavator as compared to the sole used of tine cultivator twice (TC-2). Similarly sowing by drills produced maximum emergence m-2, number of tillers m-2, spike length and harvest index (%) as compared to broadcasting. It is concluded from the results that tillage implements followed by rotavator combination performed well and should be used for tillage practices and sowing by drill method should be used to improve emergence, number of tillers, spike length and harvest index of wheat in arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bulk soil sample collected from the vicinity of PSM (Premier Sugar Mill) Mardan was amended with diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate (TSP), Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM) in 1.5 kg soil in a 2 L plastic pot. Both DAP and TSP were added at 230 mg kg-1 (460 kg ha-1) soil whereas the organic amendments (FYM and PM) were added at the rate of 10% by weight of soil. The air dried samples in pots were brought to field moisture content (0.33 bar water content) by the addition of either HIE (Hayatabad Industrial Estate) or PSM in two separate sets of experiments. The experimental pots were arranged in randomized complete design with three replicates under laboratory conditions during March to May (Temperature varying between 25 to 30 °C). Treated and control pots were incubated for 90 days al 0.33 bar ca 25% moisture and the moisture deficit during the incubation time was adjusted by adding PSM and HIE effluents in their respective set of experimental pots. Soil samples were collected after 15, 30, 45 and 90 d to determine the effect of amendments on AB-DTPA extractable metals. The results showed that AB-DTPA extractable Cd, Or, Cu, Ni and Cd increased significantly with lime and the maximum values were noted after 90 days incubation whereas the Fe, Mn and Zn content in soil increased with time but the increase was not significant. It was further noted that the increase over time in metal was not pronounced when supplied with amendments indicating their ability to chemically stabilize it compared to unamended soils. Higher values of all the heavy metals were noted in unamended soil. By comparing the different amendments, it was observed that FYM was effective in reducing the extractability/phytoavailability of all the metals under study except Pb whereby DAP was most effective as a stabilizing agent in the soil. It was concluded that in calcareous soil, FYM and DAP can be used to reduce the risk of phytotoxicity of heavy metals in contaminated soil or using wastewater for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new royleanumoate, a benzene ester (1), has been isolated from T. royleanum Wall. ex Benth alongwith two known compounds, namely, 3,4-dihydroxymethyl benzoate (2) and oleanolic acid (3). The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was established on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including heteronuclearmultiple bond correlation (HMBC), heteronuclear multiple quantum Coherence (HMQC), and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present work is to create ZnO/NiO nanocomposites (NCs) for the photocatalytic destruction of organic contaminants using the co-precipitation technique. To investigate physiochemical characteristics, FT-IR, UV visible spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD were used. The ZnO hexagonal phase and the NiO cubic phase in the ZnO/NiO NCs were verified by the diffraction pattern. NCs were discovered to have larger average crystallite sizes. The bandgap energy calculated from the Tauc plot for the ZnO is 3.02 and 2.74 eV for the ZnO/NiO NC's. SEM analysis revealed the morphological study and particle size was calculated using the histogram technique and found to be 124.5 nm for the ZnO and 49.2 nm for the ZnO/NiO NCs. Photocatalytic degradation in the presence of sunlight showed 72.8% degradation of Methylene blue (MB) for the ZnO and 79.2% for the ZnO/NiO NCs. The increase in the photocatalytic capablity for the NCs is attributed to the synergistic effect between ZnO and NiO which effectively separated charge carriers preventing greater recombination rate. The robustness of ZnO/NiO NCs as a catalyst option was shown by their exceptional performance., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

One new royleanumoate, a benzene ester (1), has been isolated from T. royleanum Wall. ex Benth along with two known compounds, namely, 3,4-dihydroxymethyl benzoate (2) and oleanolic acid (3). The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was established on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), heteronuclear multiple quantum Coherence (HMQC), and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) experiment.