Bako Agricultural Research Center, West Shoa, Ethiopia

 

Some farmers’ practices (layering of tef over sorghum with 20% proportion, mixing sorghum with tef at 30% w/w, mixing sorghum with partially grinded hot pepper at the rate of 2% w/w and 1% w/w) including Malathion 5% D and untreated check were evaluated against stored sorghum insect pests at Bako Research Center, Western Ethiopia, from 2010/11-2011/12G.C. Besides, combinations of different rates of Malathion 5% D and Neem seed powder were evaluated against maize weevils in the laboratory at Bako from February – July 2012. Number and weight of damaged grains significantly (p<0.05) higher in layering of tef over sorghum with 20% w/w, mixing sorghum with tef at 30% w/w and untreated check than the other treatments. Similarly, percent weight losses significantly (p<0.05) lower in mixing sorghum with hot pepper at 2% and 1% w/w than the other treatments, which was similar to standard check. As to combine treatments, mortality in all of the treatment combinations ranged from 3.33-100%, while that of the untreated check ranged from 0-5.33% following 90 days after infestation. Similarly, the number of progeny weevils emerged, percentages of grain damaged and seed weight losses in all of the treatment combinations were significantly lower than that of the untreated check 90 days after infestation. Significantly (P<0.05) higher percentages of mortality, lower percentages of damaged grains and seed weight losses were observed in the Malathion dust at 40% and 50% combined with neem seed powder than that of the other treatments next to the standard check 156 days after infestation. From these studies, it can be concluded that mixing sorghum with partially grindedhot pepper at the rate of 2% w/w and 1% w/w can be used to protect stored sorghum insect pests and combinations of malathion and neem seed powder at 40%+20% and 50%+10% can be used to protect maize from the maize weevil.

Keywords: Neem seed powder, Farmers practices, Malathion 5% D, stored sorghum and maize insect pest

Sustainable Agriculture Program, WWF-Pakistan

 

Biogas is a very important alternate renewable energy source for the Pakistan where more than 60% population lives in rural areas having no access to natural gas. Government aims to exploit the maximum potential of biogas plants within next 10 years. In conjunction with the efforts, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has installed 2,000 biogas plants in areas along Indus River which were affected by heavy flood during monsoon of 2010. Measuring social impacts of any development project is an important tool to understand its adaptability in any community. The social benefits of biogas plants have widely been accepted in different parts of the world but these may vary across the communities and geographical areas. Current study is a first empirical contribution towards understanding the social impacts of biogas plants on rural communities of Sindh, Pakistan. Besides improving kitchen environment and reducing the disease incidences, biogas plants also significantly reduced fuel wood consumption and its cost (ca. 48%) without consuming extra working hours.

Keywords: biogas plants, renewable, energy, social impacts, Pakistan.

1Can Tho University, 2National University of Laos, 3Louisiana State University,

4Tram Chim National Park, 5Mahasarakham University, Thailand

 

Tram Chim is a remnant wetland of the plain of reeds that drained prior to reunification. Tram Chim was most well known for being home to the Eastern Sarus Crane (Grus antigone sharpii) and many other water birds. One of the most essential things here is how to control the water levels effectively. Keeping the water too long and the water levels too high can destroy the ecosystem in Tram Chim while drying up the water and making the area too dried cause fire problems. The first objective was to analyze the hydrology of Tram Chim through a water budget and by assessing the variability and connectivity. The second objective was to survey the types of soils present and understand the processes involved. We found the water velocity at Tram Chim was close to zero. The pH values at Tram Chim indicate that water levels at unit A4 have kept too dry for too long, causing acid soils to oxidize, creating acid water when the wet season occurs. Due to this problem, many managers at Tram Chim attempt to restore the hydrology by regulating the water management in Tram Chim National Park.

Keywords: Tram Chim, sarus crane, soil, hydrology, fire, melaleuca, acid sulfate soil, rice, eleocharis, ischaemum, wetland

Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences. The University of Poonch, Rawalakot,

Azad Jammu & Kashmir-Pakistan

 

Conventional practices of farming in mountainous and hilly topographic features of Rawalakot Azad Kashmir-Pakistan accelerate runoff and erosion. To study effect of tillage and integrated nutrient management practices field study was conducted in 2009. Layout of experiment was split plot with four main plots of shallow (0-15 cm) and deep tillage (15-30 cm) with residues (wheat straw; 4 Mg ha-1) and without residues incorporation. Four tillage levels were: S (Shallow tillage), SR (Shallow tillage with residues; wheat straw @ 4 Mg ha-1), D (Deep tillage) and DR (Deep tillage with residues; wheat straw @ 4 Mg ha-1). Sub plots were having three fertilizer levels viz. F0 (control), F1 (Recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers at per hectare rate; 120 Kg N-90 Kg P2O5-60 Kg K2O) and F3 (application of farm yard manure (FYM @ 7692 kg ha-1) + 60 Kg N- 90 Kg P2O5-60 Kg K2O ha-1). Significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher wheat grain yield of 2.9 kg ha-1 was obtained under D while wheat straw yield was statistically similar under all tillage practices. Fertilizer’s level F2 and F3 increased grain yield and straw yield compare to F0 but between F2 and F3 statistically no difference was observed. Statistically higher Water Use efficiency (WUE) was obtained for D (4.56 kg ha-1 mm-1) and lower with S (2.79 kg ha-1 mm-1). Among fertilizers levels F2 gave higher WUE (4.24 kg ha-1 mm-1) which is similar to F1 (3.78 kg ha-1 mm-1).

Keywords: Farm yard manure, residues incorporation, Tillage practices, water storage, wheat

Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam- Sindh.

 

Two varieties (Early Mustard and S-9) were evaluated against six Zn levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kg Zn ha-1). Significant improvements in the plant growth, seed yield and oil contents increased with increasing Zn levels. The results revealed that there was a significant improvement in the growth, seed yield and oil content with increasing Zn levels, irrespectively. The highest Zn level of 10 kg ha-1 resulted 216 cm plant height, 10.86 branches plant-1, took 55.66 days to initiate flowering, 574.50 pods plant-1, 17.61 g weight of seeds plant-1, 3.63 g seed index, 2037.20 seed yield kg ha-1 and 36.80 percent oil as the highest output. In case of varieties, S-9 ranked 1st with 216.50 cm plant height, 10.84 branches plant-1, took 56.33 days to initiate flowering, 581.11 pods plant-1, 17.82 g weight of seeds plant-1, 3.66 g seed index, 1960.30 seed yield kg ha-1 and 36.80 percent oil content; while variety Early Mustard resulted 186.56 cm plant height, 9.25 branches plant-1, took 52.72 days to initiate flowering, 484.67 pods plant-1, 14.50 g weight of seeds plant-1, 2.90 g seed index, 1677.90 seed yield kg ha-1 and 35.13 percent oil content. It is suggested that for achieving economically higher seed yields in mustard, the Zn application to mustard may be done at the rate of 8 kg ha-1. Moreover, variety S-9 may preferably grow for obtaining higher seed and oil contact yields.

Keywords: Zinc; growth; yield and mustard

Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan

Fusarium solani is a phytopathogenic fungus and is an important causal agent of several crop diseases, such as root and fruit rot of Cucurbita spp., root and stem rot of pea, root rot of okra. The objective of current research was to determine the growth rate of different isolates of Fusarium solani, the cause of root rot of okra, in Peshawar. Five isolates of Fusarium solani collected from five different places and were investigated for growth rate of the colonies. Highest colony growth rate (86.3 mm) was recorded for isolate collected from Achini payan and lowest (60 mm) for isolate collected from Palosi. Under In vitro.

Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus L, Fusarium solani, Colony growth rate

1. Department of Agriculture, Yazman, Bahawalpur2. University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, TheIslamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur3. Department of Life Sciences, TheIslamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur4. Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology,

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

 

Heavy metals take route to higher trophic levels by first of all accumulating in harvestable parts of plants like leaves. Higher the trophic level the amount of metal increase and affect every higher trophic level. Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is used as template to assess the biotransformation of heavy metal in a food chain from soil to plant then insect. The mulberry plants were irrigated with synthetic effluent of Cr (VI) (100mg/L with pH 4.5) and the treated soil, mulberry plant leaves, silkworm body, cuticle, alimentary canal, silk glands, silk cocoons and their excreta were sampled to check Cr (VI) contents accumulated by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The concentration of Cr (VI) in soil and mulberry leaves tend to increase with increase in irrigation times. On the other hand, the contents of Cr (VI) in B. mori larvae and the excreta were in considerable amount but decrease with the increase in larval instars, yet most of Cr (VI) remains in its body. Cr (VI) found in B. mori body was liable for toxic effects on its life cycle and the body growth and silk production was also inhibited under the effect of Cr (VI) accumulation. A considerable amount of Cr (VI) was also found deposited in the silk glands, cuticle and alimentary canal, and concentration of Cr (VI) in larval body increased B. mori death rate significantly.

Keywords: Bombyx mori, sriculture, bio-transformation, heavy metal.

1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Forestry Research Center, P.o.Box 30708 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeiet agricultural Research Center,

P.o.Box, 32 Debre Zeiet, Ethiopia

 

Acacia senegal (L) Wild, is an important indigenous multipurpose tree species known for its gum arabic product. The species has diverse ecological and economic benefits. Despite its benefits, information on its stand status and yield potential is lacking particularly in the northern Ethiopia. Here we studied the stand status and yield economics of A.senegal at Abderafi, north western Ethiopia. A total of 52 sample plots of size 20 x 20 m were used for counting matured trees at 300m intervals by laying parallel transects with 500m regular interval. Smaller sample plots of size 5 x 5 m nested in the center of each plot were used for measuring saplings. Besides, the gum yield ha-1 year-1 was estimated by multiplying the mean A.senegal stem density ha-1. The result revealed that A.senegal is the dominant tree species constituted 70.70% of the vegetation with the mean density of 356 stems ha-1. The population structure of A.senegal showed an inverted J-shape suggesting stable and healthy population. Also, the mean number of A.senegal trees from which gum arabic can be produced with DBH ≥ 4cm found 211stems ha-1 indicating adequate number of matured trees for gum production. Accordingly, 190 to 422Kg ha-1 year-1 of gum arabic could be harvested that could worth $US ca 950 to 2110 ha-1 year-1. More interesting, the regeneration status of A.senegal trees in the stand showed a huge potential to enhance the sustainable utilization of gum arabic from the natural stand in the study area.

Keywords: Abderafi, Acacia senegal, Dry land, Regeneration, and yield

Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Napaam, Assam – 784028, India

 

This experiment was conducted with different concentrations of cobalt (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants for quantification of its effects on growth performance in a sand culture medium using Hoagland solution. Germination was tested in petri dishes using same treatments. Inhibitory effect of Co on germination percent was observed from 200ppm of Co while vigor index decreased with increasing Co concentration. No negative effect of Co on germination index was found up to 300 ppm while beyond that higher percent inhibition of wheat seed germination was recorded. An enhancing effect on plant height, leaf number, leaf area and dry matter production was observed up to 200ppm of Co treatment while higher concentrations showed detrimental effect of the same. Chlorophyll a/b increased and chlorophyll stability index decreased with increasing Co concentration from 300 ppm onwards. Results from analysis of above ground plant biomass showed higher accumulation of Co with increasing concentration in the medium. However, at 100 ppm of Co treatment, significantly higher grain accumulation of Co was recorded compared to 500ppm of Co treatment. From these findings, it can be summarised that at lower concentrations (up to 200ppm) Co has an enhancing effect on growth of wheat crop and it has a good phyto-extracting ability for cobalt

Keywords: Cobalt, Wheat, Morphological parameters, Chlorophyll pigment, Plant accumulation

Lahore College for Women University, Lahore

 

Investigate the level of chromium in male tannery workers and their general health status. Chromium level was measured in hair samples of male tannery workers of different age groups. Group-I included workers that belong to age group of 15-30 years, Group-II included workers that range from 31-46 years and Group-III included workers that belong to age group of above 47 years. Chromium concentration in all age group was very high as compared to permissible limit (mean values: 30.76mg/l, 39.77mg/l and 65.0mg/l). A strong positive correlation was also existed between workers and their ages as there is an increasing trend of Cr concentration with age. It can be concluded from the analysis of data that the concentration of chromium in hair samples of male tannery workers was very high and they were suffering from different diseases (blood pressure, skin infection, jaundice, respiratory disorder) due to the exposure to the precarious occupational hazards.

Keywords: Health hazards, chromium, tannery, workers and correlation.