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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of proactive personality (PP), entrepreneurship education (EE) and entrepreneurial opportunities (EO) on shaping entrepreneurial intentions (EI) among university students through attitude toward entrepreneurship (ATE) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) according to Ajzen's (1985) theory of planned behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: The study used questionnaires to collect data from university students enroled in undergraduate programmes. A total of 209 surveys were successfully collected. SPSS and SmartPLS 3.0 software were used to analyse and test nine hypotheses derived from the intentions-centred model. Findings: The results supported seven hypotheses. There were positive relationships between PP and ATE; PP and PBC; EE and ATE; EO and ATE; EO and PBC; ATE and EI; and PBC and EI. However, there were no relationships between EE and PBC, and subjective norms and EI. Research limitations/implications: This study used a cross-sectional survey and self-report data which hinder conclusively making correlational inferences. In addition, the various developmental stages of students may influence perceptions of EI. Practical implications: The empirical findings provide new insights for policymakers, educators and academics about the antecedents governing EI. This study also enhances the understanding of the preconditions for EI, which can be utilised by practitioners to encourage and manage graduate entrepreneurship. Originality/value: This study advances an intentions-based model which suggests a simultaneous presence of the three core factors, PP, EE and EO for an effective formation of EI. By doing so, the study addresses the issue of the scarcity of investigations on the combined effects, thus closing the research gap and bringing new perspective to the antecedents-intentions nexus of graduate entrepreneurship.

Purpose: Although studies have examined the role of physical factors such as physical environment, price/fee and personal safety in the satisfaction of international students, the effect of social factors such as emotional support, ethical conduct and student-lecturer attachment in international student's satisfaction has yet to be explored. This study aims to investigate the effect of physical and social factors associated with the satisfaction of international university exchange students that leads to revisit intention. Design/methodology/approach: A self-administered questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 166 international exchange students from a large public university in Malaysia using convenience sampling. The structural equation modelling through partial least square approach was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings: The findings revealed that the physical environment, price/fee, personal safety and student-lecturer attachment had a positive relationship with student satisfaction. Also, student's satisfaction significantly influenced their revisit intention to the university. Practical implications: The findings of the study provide insight into the administration of higher education institutions about the factors that lead to the satisfaction of international exchange students. Marketing managers can also use the findings to develop strategies to attract more foreign students. Originality/value: Previous studies discussed the physical factors that influence the satisfaction of international students. However, this study included the social factors which have not been tested in the context of international student satisfaction. The study provides a comprehensive framework that can be used to develop satisfaction among international exchange students.

Currently, research on health supervision service and physicians' wellbeing has grown rapidly. However, the literature on health supervision service and physicians' wellbeing and service attachment are scarce especially in the context of Bangladesh. A quantitative study was performed and the data were collected using the purposive sampling method. A survey was performed among 192 physicians from different public and private hospitals in Bangladesh. The data were analysed using the structural equation modelling (SEM) by partial least square (PLS) approach using SmartPLS 3.2.8. This study has found a significant positive relationship between health supervision service and physicians' wellbeing (p < 0.01). Besides, physicians' wellbeing was found to have a positive influence on their service attachment (p < 0.01). The study provides inputs to the policymakers in formulating policies in the development of Bangladesh's health sector and health supervision service. However, with limitations, the generalizability of the study results needs attention due to the unavailability of the sample frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is the most deficient nutrient in agricultural soils after nitrogen. Additionally, exogenously applied P quickly transforms into less soluble compounds through various chemo-sorption reactions resulting in poor fertilizer use efficiency (15–25%). Therefore, this pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of foliar P (0, 45, 90 and 135 mM KH2PO4) in conjunction with soil applied P (0, 10 and 20 mg P kg−1) for enhanced growth and P use efficiency of maize and wheat in calcareous soils. There was a linear increase in plant height and biomass both with the increasing application of soil and foliar P in both wheat and maize crop. However, the effect of foliar P was more pronounced in P deficient condition compared to 10 or 20 mg P kg−1. Soil applied P at 10 and 20 mg P kg−1 increased plant dry biomass by 10.8 and 16.8% in maize and by 29.9 and 35.5% in wheat over control, respectively. Foliar P application didn't improve soil phosphorus. The interaction between soil and foliar P was significant (p ≤.05) showing that increase of either foliar or soil P application, tissue P content of both maize and wheat increased. In both season the higher foliar P solution resulted in higher P uptake though the increase in wheat were lower than maize. Therefore, the low recovery of soil P associated with poor soil characteristics could be corrected through its foliar application if administered at proper growth stage with suitable concentration strength and appropriate source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Low phosphorus (P) availability to wheat from commercial fertilizers is one of the reasons for lower grain yield and hence justifies search for more efficient P source under alkaline calcareous soils. RESULTS Phosphoric acid ( PA) and diammonium phosphate ( DAP), applied through conventional and modified methods, were assessed for P supply and wheat yield in a calcareous soil. Under laboratory conditions, pre-incubated soil with 70 mg P kg−1 soil as PA and DAP was assessed for solution P ( Cp) for 4 weeks. Phosphorus sorption data were fitted using the Freundlich model for describing analyzed sorption in soil incubated with or without DAP and PA. The fitted model equations exhibited comparatively higher effluxes of P from the solution system in control treatment. Compared to DAP, lower quantities (19.6%) of P for PA-treated soil were required for producing optimum P concentration in soil solution, i.e. 0.2 mg P L−1. The greenhouse study involved 32P tracer technique to quantify the proportion of applied P derived by wheat from fertilizer or soil. The results showed that P derived from fertilizer was highest (47.5%) in PA placement, while the lowest (31.5%) was in DAP broadcast treatment. The field study also showed similar trends to that of the greenhouse study. The PA placement treatment resulted in highest (23.4%) phosphorus use efficiency, whereas the lowest one (17.1%) was recorded for DAP broadcast treatment. CONCLUSION PA proved to be a better P source than DAP for improving P content and achieving higher yield and recovery of applied P by wheat grown in alkaline calcareous soils. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the irrigation water scarcity, inefficient irrigation supplies to farm lands, increasing temperature with high evaporation rate and poor sowing, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during 2011-12. In the study three factors were studied i.e., sowing methods, mulching and deficit irrigation with four levels viz: full irrigation (DI0), 20% deficit irrigation (DI20), 40% deficit irrigation (DI40) and 60% deficit irrigation (DI60). Soil moisture was continuously monitored and full irrigation was determined on the basis of 50% Management Allowed Deficit (MAD). Results indicated that sowing methods, mulching and various levels of deficit irrigation significantly (P<0.05) affected wheat yield and nitrogen uptake. Raised beds cultivation produced higher number of tillersm (415), grain yield (5.13 t ha-1), biological yield (12.02 t ha-1) and total nitrogen uptake (141.7 kg ha-1) as compared to the traditional flat bed. Similarly, mulch plots resulted in higher tillersm (404) wheat grain yield (4.94 t ha-1), biological yield (11.94 t ha-1) and total nitrogen uptake (137.6 kg ha-1) than flat bed. In deficit irrigation, maximum tillers m-2 (412), wheat yield (5.20 t ha-1), biological yield (11.98 t ha-1) and total nitrogen uptake (144.7 kg ha-1) was recorded at full irrigation application followed by 20% deficit. None of the interactions were found significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of planting sources i.e. standing (fresh canes-frost exposed) trenched (stored canes-frost protected), cane portions and setts placement methods on the attributes of sugarcane were assessed at Sugar Crops Research Institute, Mardan-Pakistan. The experiment was conducted in RCB Design with split plot arrangement, over years (2012-13 and 2013-14). Planting sources i.e. standing (fresh canes frost exposed) trenched (stored canes frost protected) and canes portions top, middle, bottom and mixed 33 % each were assigned to main plots, while setts placement methods i.e. single, one and a half, double and triple setts 40 cm in length were allotted to sub-plots. Recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. N: 150. P2O5: 100. K2O: 100 were applied and standard management practices (inter-culturing, earthing up, and irrigation) were performed. The objectives were to find best planting source, cane portions, setts placement methods and interaction for maximum emergence, visible crop stand leading to yield and yield components. Significant differences were observed among cane portions and setts placement methods for all the traits except emergence %. Planting sources exhibited significant differences for emergence percentage. The interaction of cane portions and setts placement methods were significant except for emergence percentage. Millable canes showed significant interaction for planting sources and setts placement methods. Maximum cane yield was recorded for top portion and triple setts. Millable canes excelled when top portion from standing source was planted at triple setts. Stripped cane length and yield excelled when top cane portions were planted as triple setts. Over all it was concluded that planting fresh cane top portions with double and triple setts placement methods were found better than trenched planting for cane yield and yield attributing traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture consumes more water than any other human activity. In Pakistan, the contribution of irrigated agriculture is more than 90%, thus the sustainable water supply to meet the food and fibre demand of the ever increasing population is a big challenge. Increase in crop water productivity (CWP) is one of the most important options for sustainable use of water resources in semi-arid environment. A field study was conducted during Rabi 2010-11 and Kharif 2011 crop seasons to compare the CWP of main crops (wheat, sugarcane, maize and tomato) under public and civil canal irrigation systems in Peshawar Valley. For this purpose, 18 farms were selected under public canal system and 13 under civil canal systems. Results revealed that average CWP of wheat, maize, sugarcane and tomato was 0.96, 1.11, 3.31, 3.61 kg m-3 under public and 0.90, 0.77, 2.36, 2.98 kg m-3, under civil system, respectively. In public canal system, the average CWP of the selected crops was 7, 40, 44 and 21% higher than civil canal system, respectively. Low CWP in civil canal system was mainly attributed to over irrigation (because of high water allowance). Quantitative analysis of the yield per unit volume of water applied was carried out using dummy-regression model. The difference in means for maize, sugarcane and tomato crop was found highly significant while in case of wheat it was non-significant. This study concludes that the public system remained more productive with high CWP at farm level for all the major crops. However, there is a great potential for increasing CWP under civil system by rationalizing the water allowance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity, high temperature, poor sowing methods and weeds infestation are the limiting factors in crop production. To determine the effect of sowing methods and mulching on weed density in wheat crop under deficit irrigation, an experiment was conducted at New developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan under clay loam soil conditions during 2011-12. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with split split plot arrangement having three replications. Three factors i.e. sowing methods, mulch and deficit irrigation with four levels i.e. full irrigation (DI0), 20% deficit (DI20), 40% deficit (DI40) and 60% deficit (DI60) were studied. Soil moisture was continuously monitored and full irrigation was determined on the basis of MAD 50%. Sowing methods were consisted of raised bed and flat bed cultivation while maize stover was used as mulch. Findings of the study indicated that sowing methods, mulching and irrigation levels had considerably influenced weed density, yield and yield components of wheat. Raised bed cultivation had more number of spikes m-2, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and harvest index with lowest weed density as compared to traditional flat bed sowing. Likewise, application of maize stover @ 4 tons ha-1 as a surface mulch enhanced wheat yield and decreased weeds germination. In case of irrigation levels, full irrigation resulted an increase in weeds density, spikes m-2, 1000-grain weight, yield and harvest index of wheat crop. It was concluded that raise bed cultivation, mulching with maize stover and 20% deficit irrigation reduced weeds density and enhanced wheat yield under the semi arid environment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sowing depths and fertilizer application have key roles in sugar beet production. Thus, to quantify the effects of sowing depth, N fertilizer and biochar, experiments were conducted at SCRI Mardan for consecutive two years. Sugar beet variety KWS- 1451 was seeded at the rate of 6 kg ha-1 at four sowing depths (1cm, 2cm, 3cm and 4cm). Nitrogen at the rate of 140 kg ha-1 was either broadcasted or banded in plots having 25 or 50 t biochar ha-1, a control treatment was also included in the experiment. Sowing depths significantly affected the studied parameters except weeds m-2. Sugar beet closed to soil surface showed maximum germination resulted in increased yield production. Mean maximum foliage yield (68.59 t ha-1), beet yield (79.75 t ha-1), total biomass yield 137.27 t ha-1) and sugar yield (12.18 t ha-1) were recorded in sugar beet planted at 2 cm depth. Nitrogen band placement method significantly affected yield productivity of sugar beet. Mean maximum weeds m-2 (5.53), foliage yield (71.72 t ha-1), beet yield (83.65 t ha-1), total biomass yield (144.27 t ha-1) and sugar yield (13.30 t ha-1) were obtained by banded fertilizer placement. Biochar integration @ of 50 t ha-1 significantly improved soil fertility resulted maximum weeds m-2 (5.50), foliage yield (69.61 t ha-1), beet yield (81.90 t ha-1), total biomass yield (143.93 t ha-1) and sugar yield (12.89 t ha-1). The combined application of nitrogen and biochar showed mean maximum weeds m-2 (5.53), foliage yield (73.42 t ha-1), beet yield (84.12 t ha-1), total biomass yield (145.61 t ha-1) and sugar yield (11.83 t ha-1) when banded nitrogen was integrated with 50 t ha-1 biochar. In conclusion, banded nitrogen having 50 t ha-1 biochar at 2 cm depth produced higher yield and represented as the optimum combination for higher production of sugar beet in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of tillage practices and sowing methods on weed biomass and growth of mungbean under irrigated condition was studied at the research farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during 2010 and 2011. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split plot arrangement and replicated four times. Tillage practices, were tine cultivator use twice (TC-2), and the following treatments chisel plow(CR), mouldboard plow (MR), disc plow (DR) and tine cultivator(TCR) were followed by rotavator, while sowing methods were seed drill (SD), combined drill (CD) and broadcasting (BC). Tillage practices were assigned to main plots and sowing methods to sub plots. Statistical analysis of the two years mean data revealed that tillage practices had a significant effect on weed biomass and plant height, while number of branches and biological yield of mungbean were not significantly affected. Sowing methods showed significant affect on weed biomass, plant height, number of branches plant-1and biological yield of mungbean. Lower dry weed biomass (128 g m-2) was recorded in plots plowed with MR tillage practices. Higher plant height (77.8 cm) and biological yield (4470kg ha-1) were recorded in plots plowed with CR and MR tillage practices respectively, while highest dry weed biomass (311 g m-2), lowest plant height (75.1 cm) and biological yield (4145 kg ha-1) were recorded in plots plowed with TC-2 tillage practices. Similarly lower weed biomass (177g m-2), higher plant height (77.8 cm) and biological yield (4537kg ha-2) were observed in plots of seed drill sowing methods. Therefore, for minimizing weeds and maximizing growth of mungbean MR tillage practices or other tillage implements followed by rotavator along with drill sowing methods should be adopted under irrigated condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of tillage and integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on N uptake and crop yield of wheat were studied in a field experiments at Agricultural Research Station, Serai Naurang, Bannu, Pakistan during 2010-11. Effects of two tillage methods (in main plots) and four fertilizer treatments (as sub-plots) were evaluated in RCBD split plot configuration. Tillage treatments consist of conventional till (CT) and deep till (DT). The various combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer were 60-45 kg ha-1 NP (T1), 120-90-60 kg ha- 1 NPK (T2), 50 % N + PK + 10 t ha-1 FYM (T3), and 25 % N + PK + 20 t ha-1 FYM (T4). The results showed that tillage treatments had significant effect on wheat yield. Considering average yield over all fertilizer treatments, the mean wheat yield (biological, straw and grain) were 11.88, 8.28 and 3.60 t ha-1 respectively for DT as compared to 10.99, 7.66 and 3.33 t ha-1 for CT. Deep tillage significantly increased the wheat yield. Considering the fertilizer treatments, the maximum yield of 13.58, 9.51 and 4.07 t ha-1 for biological, straw and grain yield respectively of wheat were obtained from treatment receiving 50 % N + PK + 10 t ha-1 FYM (T3). The treatment (T4), receiving 25 % N + PK + 20 t ha-1 FYM produced significantly lower yields. Similarly tillage and fertilizer treatments had a positive effect on N uptake of wheat crop. The soil of DT treatment had consistently the highest N uptake in grain (84.18 kg ha-1) and straw (27.38 kg ha-1) compared to the 68.75 and 25.19 kg ha-1 in grain and straw respectively under CT. The fertilizer treatment (T3) recorded significantly high N uptake in grain (96.73 kg ha-1) and straw (34.05 kg ha-1) as compared to other fertilizer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of experiments were conducted in laboratory at The University of Agriculture, Peshawar to determine the optimal duration and maximal concentration of zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) for priming wheat seed. The seeds were soaked through a range of durations (0, 12, IS, 24, 36 and 48 h) and tested for germination as surface dry and dried to original moisture (12%). Seed soaked for 18 h resulted in higher mean germination and final germination whereas less time to 50% germination. Primed surface-dry seed performed better than the seed dried to original moisture content. However, primed dried seed were better than the non-primed seed. In other experiments, seeds were primed for 18 h in various concentrations of Zn (0.05%, 0.1%, 1%, 2.0% and 3.0%) and P (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 3% and 5%) along with dry and water soaked seeds as control treatments. The seeds were e\'a!uated for germination as surface dry, washed and dried to original moisture, and non-washed dried to original moisture. Seed primed in 0.1% Zn or 0.5% P took less time to 50% germination and resulted in higher mean germination and final gennination. The maximal pennissible concentiations of Zn and P for priming wheat seed proved to be 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively. The Zn and P primed seeds were also analyzed, as washed and non-washed, for Zn and P concentrations, respectively. Zinc and P concentrations in the seeds were enhanced with increase in Zn and P concentration, respectively, of the priming solution. Non-washed seed contained Zn and P almost in double concentration than that of washed seed. [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]