Tag Archives: 1 (4)

PAKISTAN REQUIRES MODERN TECHNIQUES AND PROPER MANAGEMENT TO BOOST UP ITS AGRICULTURE AS COMPARED TO CHINA

Fiaz Ahmad*1, Rashid Mehmood Rana2, Ji Huang1, Hong-Sheng Zhang*1
1State key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University,
Nanjing 210095, P.R China
2PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
In-addition to classical breeding, high throughput techniques for DNA and RNA quantification are also the demand of time in order to boost up agriculture in places like Pakistan. In the modern world,usage of high throughout techniques is very common to flourish agriculture sector. As in China, during the past five decades rice production has been increased three times more; credit goes to the increased grain yield but not to the planted area. In fact, the agriculture sector cannot be drive properly in any state unless the solutions are found for elementary issues of management. Here, in this review article, we have not tried to co-relate the performance of agriculture sector between two countries only but explained briefly the basic hurdles of management that are destroying the crop yield and their management in the agriculture sector of Pakistan as compared to China. On the other hand, with respect to current advances in the plant science, as the sequences of many plant genomes have been released and a huge array of molecular markers exists for crops. Meanwhile, the power of genomics for practical breeding is one of the best tools of recent years. We suggest that a sustainable increase in crop production is attainable in Pakistan through the adaptation of these modern techniques including; genome-wide association (GWA) studies and emerging RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for the basic research.
Keywords: Agriculture, High through-put techniques, Management, China, Pakistan

ENHANCING NUTRITIVE VALUE AND GREEN FODDER PRODUCTION OF FODDER OAT THROUGH INTEGRATED USE OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Sajjad Khan*, Bakth Daraz Khan, Abdur Rehman, Ilyas
Livestock Research and Development Station Surezai, Peshawar, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
Livestock play an important role in the economy of Pakistan. The production of livestock is limited by insufficient fodder and poor nutrition. Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizer play a vital  ole in proper nutrition and increase green fodder production in fodder crops. In this regard an experiment was conducted at Livestock Research and Development Station, Surezai, Peshawar (2011- 12), to study the integrated effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the nutritive value and fodder yield of oat. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments were consisted of T1 (Control), T2 (100% inorganic), T3 (75% inorganic and 25 % organic), T4 (50 % inorganic and 50% organic), T5 (25% inorganic and 75% organic), T6 (100% organic). Organic nitrogen was derived from farm yard manure and inorganic from urea.Various organic and inorganic ratios significantly affected fodder yield and nutritive value of oat. Higher fodder yield was observed with integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers inthe ratios of 50 % inorganic and 50% organic. It is concluded that a ratio of 50 % inorganic and 50% organic is recommended for higher nutritive value and fodder yield in oat.
Keywords: Oat, Organic fertilizers, Nutritive value, Fodder yield

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF NITROGEN ON THE YIELD OF DIFFERENT COTTON VARIETIES

Muhammad Aslam, Ashiq Hussain Sanghi, Laila Khalid* and Shamaun Javed
Department of Adaptive Research Farm, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
An investigation to study the effect of nitrogen @ (100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and cotton approved varieties (viz. CIM-506, CIM-496, NIAB-111 and BH-160) on the yield and yield components was conducted at Adaptive Research Farm, Rahim Yar Khan during 2005-2007 for three years. The levels of nitrogen and cotton varieties significantly affected the plant height, number of mature bolls plant-1, seed cotton weight boll-1, and seed cotton yield ha-1. The interaction between nitrogen levels and cotton varieties was non-significant for plant height and number of mature bolls plant-1 while it was significant for boll weight and seed cotton yield ha-1. Application of nitrogen @ 200 kg ha-1 gave the highest and significant increase in seed cotton yield (2455 kg ha-1) over 100 and 150 nitrogen ha-1. The cotton variety CIM-506 produced the highest seed cotton yield (2568 kg ha-1).
Keywords: Nitrogen, Cotton yield, CIM-506, CIM-496, NIAB-111, BH-160

FREQUENCY OF HEPATITIS B & C VIRAL INFECTIONS AMONGST STUDENTS OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL OF ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Munazza Asad1, Humaira Zafar2*, Kiran Tauseef Bukhari3, Iram Yasir4
1Department of Physiology, 2Department of Microbiology, 3Department of Haematology,
4Department of Community Medicine, Al-Nafees Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
The increased frequency of Hepatitis B and C viral infections is considered to be amongst the very important health issues. Therefore, the current study has been planned to assess the frequency of specific diseases in adult age group medical students. It was a Descriptive study, carried out on 151 medical students of Al-Nafees Medical College and Hospital, Islamabad. A convenient sampling technique was adopted for the proceedings of study. Informed consent followed by a questionnaire filling was the important prerequisites of study. This was to get adequate information regarding the presence of any predisposing factor and subclinical presentation. The data was finally analyzed by SPSS version 16. For qualitative variables frequency of specific infection was calculated in terms of percentages. While for specific age group, quantitative variables i.e. mean and standard deviation were calculated. The results of current study have shown 0.66% (n=1) hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) and 0% (n=0) hepatitis B viral infection (HBV). The study concluded that, the frequency of both HBV and HCV infection was found to be very less than that expected. This study suggests that the National preventative programs and strategies against both HBV and HCV are successful.
Keywords: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Frequency, Medical students

GLYCATION INHIBITION BY NIGELLA SATIVA (LINN)–AN IN VITRO MODEL

Hira Zafar1, Fatma Hussain1*, Shoaib Zafar2, Riffat Yasmin1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,
Pakistan
2Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
In present study, an in vitro glycation model comprising both plasma and glucose designed to assess glycation inhibitory potentials of N. sativa seed (NS) extracts. Plasma with several glucose quantities in the presence of NS were incubated for thirty-five days at 37°C. Non-enzymatic glycation (NEG) was quantified by Thiobarbituric acid technique. NEG levels were reduced by NS. Higher NS concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the NEG demonstrating dose-dependent inhibitory potential of NS. Plasma NEG levels were decreased up to 13% (P< 0.05). NEG inhibition correlated (r=0.784) with NS concentrations. Present glycation inhibitory prospective of NS demands further studies to determine the precise mechanism of action and effective dose of NS for therapeutic interventions.
Keywords: Glycation inhibition, Hyperglycemia, Human plasma, Nigella sativa

COMPARATIVE POPULATION TRENDS OF SUGARCANE BORERS ON DIFFERENT COMMERCIALLY GROWN SUGARCANE VARIETIES AT DISTRICT JHANG, PAKISTAN

Asif Sajjad*, Farhan Ahmad, Asad Imran, Arif Hamid Makhdum
Sustainable Agriculture Programme, World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan)
 
ABSTRACT
Sugarcane borers are devastating pests of sugarcane crop and often cause economic damage. The study was conducted in five different locations of district Jhang during 2012 aiming to evaluate some commercially grown sugarcane varieties (CP-77-400, NSG-59, SPF-213, HSF-240 and SPF-234) towards different sugarcane borer species in terms of field infestation levels, spatial distribution and their impact on brix percentage. There was no significant difference in populations of top borer (Scirpophaga nivella) among the five sugarcane varieties. The highest abundance of stem borers (Chilo infuscatellus) was recorded in NGS-59 while it was the lowest in HSF-240 and SPF-234. Gurdaspur borer (Acigona steniella) was the highest in abundance in CP-77-400. The maximum number of root borer (Emmalocera depressella) was recorded in CP-77-400 and NGS-59 and the minimum in HSF-240. The mean borer population was also the maximum in CP-77-400 and NGS-59 while it was the minimum in HSF-240 and SPF-234. The brix percentage of CP-77-400, NGS-59 and HSF-240 was significantly reduced by borer infestation. Except top borer, the populations of all the three borer species were significantly distributed among the five locations. The variety SPF-234 proved most successful as it was least attacked by borers and its brix percentage was also least affected.
Keywords: Sugarcane borers, Brix percentage, Sugarcane varieties, Sugarcane borer infestation.

IMPROVING MAIZE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO SOIL APPLIED ELEMENTAL SULFUR

Mohsin Tanveer1*, Ehsanullah1, Shakeel Ahmad Anjum1, 2, Ali Ahsan Bajwa1, Haseeb Zahid1
1Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
2College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted to ascertain the effect of varying soil applied elemental sulfur (S) levels viz; 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg ha-1, on maize growth and development. Experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Growth and development parameters were computed; included leaf area per plant LAI, LAD, CGR, NAR and TDM and experimental results revealed that increasing S levels were pragmatic in improving maize performance. However, soil applied elemental S @ 30 kg ha-1 proved to be beneficial involved in growth and yield improvement. Maximum CGR (23.44 g m-2 d-1), NAR (6.23 g m-2 d-1) and LAI (4.85) was in plots where S was applied at 30 kg ha-1 while least LAI (4.40), LAD (193.45 days), TDM (1178.13 kg ha-1) was in control treatment. Therefore, elemental S @ 30 kg ha-1 was noted to be most suitable for sustainable maize production amongst all other treatments.
Keywords: Elemental Sulfur, Growth, Maize, NAR, TDM

A STUDY OF THERMAL CHANGES ON PHYSIOLOGY AND PADDY YIELD OF FINE RICE CULTIVARS UNDER SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS

Tasneem Khaliq1, Amjed Ali 1, 2, Ashfaq Ahmad1, Muhammad Ahmad3,
Azhar Mahmood4 and Muhammad Mubeen1
1Agro-climatology Lab., University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan 2University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, 3Agriculture Adaptive Research Complex, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan, 4Adaptive Research Farm, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
A thematic research was planned to find out the effects of thermal changes on crop physiology and paddy yield of fine rice under subtropical conditions. Various parameters related to crop physiology and yield were recorded in order to establish the causes underlying the variations in paddy yield associated with transplanting date and cultivar. Throughout the growth period of different rice cultivars, early transplanting (1st of July) significantly enhanced LAI over subsequent late transplanting (15th and 30th of July). LAI of different cultivars was also significant. Maximum LAI values were found at 75 DAT in all the treatments. LAD was positively correlated with paddy yield. Percent increase in NAR (g m-2 d-1) in case of 30th July was 14.3, followed by 15th July 10.97 as compared to 1st July. While in case of varieties, NAR (g m-2 d-1) was not significantly affected by different varieties. Paddy yield also decreased in the subsequent transplanting dates from 4.71 t ha-1 to 4.22 t ha-1and 4.01 t ha-1 in 1st, 15th and 30th July, respectively. Paddy yield of different cultivars was also significantly different and it was highest in case of cv. Basmati-515 as compared to other cultivars. Increase in temperature decreased paddy yield.
Keywords: Transplanted dates, Cultivars, Harvest index, Seasonal, Linearly

COLONY COLOUR AND TEXTURE OF DIFFERENT ISOLATES OF FUSARIUM SOLANI, THE CAUSE OF ROOT ROT DISEASE OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L) IN PESHAWAR

Rifat Ali1*, Hakim Khan1, Fayaz Ahmad1 and Nazir Ahmad2
1Department of Plant Pathology, 2Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics,
KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan
 
ABSTRACT
The research work was conducted at department of plant pathology, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2012. The objective was to determine the fungal colony texture and colour of five different isolates of Fusarium solani, causing root rot of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L) plant, in Peshawar. In this study, five isolates of Fusarium solani collected from different places of (Chamkani, Budhni, Palosi, Achinipayan and Jogian) were investigated for colony colour and texture. They were flat to cottony or woolly densely and densely floccose to fluffy. The colony colour was white to off white, creamy and chocolate colour or bright or silver coloured.
Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus L, Colony texture and Colour, Fusarium solani