Md Arafat Hossain¹, Md Masud Rana^2*, S M Hisam Al Rabbi¹, Toshiaki Mitsui³

¹Biotechnology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

²Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

³Department of Life and Food Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan

Abstract

Soil puddling is considered favorable for rice but unfavorable for post-rice upland crops. The deleterious effects of puddling in post-rice mungbean and management of puddled soil have not been adequately addressed earlier in Bangladesh. This research work was conducted to amend differential puddled soil through organic amendments for improved post-rice mungbean production. The treatments were puddling by four passes, puddling by eight passes, and non-puddling with three organic amendments i.e. control, crop residue, and cow dung. Puddling generally increased bulk density of soil under moisture deficit condition. Puddling had no significant effect on soil pH, total-N, available-P, exchangeable–K, and organic-C. Application of cow dung in the puddle soil increased the amount of N (75.0%), P (35.5%), K (13.3%), and organic-C (38.8%) compared to control. Puddling (eight passes) impaired root growth resulting reduced total dry matter production by 15.6% over non-puddling condition. Cow dung management in differential puddling intensity gave higher root (0.13 g plant^-1) and total dry matter (1.16 g plant^-1) production of mungbean than without amendment at 60 days after seedling. Puddling intensity adversely affected the number of pods plant^-1, thousand-seed weight and seed yield. Cow dung application gave significantly higher number of pods, seeds pod^-1 and thousand-seed weight. The mungbean seed yield achieved through cow dung incorporation (8.74 g plant^-1) was better than crop residue (7.38 g plant^-1) and control (7.34 g plant^-1). The adverse effects of puddling intensity on soil strength and bulk density and succeeding plant growth and seed yield of mungbean were highly remarkable. Cow dung management indicated a positive response on the improvement of soil properties and mungbean seed yield.

Keywords: Bulk density, Crop residue, Mungbean, Organic-C, Puddling intensity and soil

Omer Farooq^1*, Muqarrab Ali², Naeem Sarwar¹, Atique ur Rehman¹, Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal³, Tayyaba Naz⁴, Muhammad Asghar¹, Fahid Ehsan⁵, Muhammad Nasir¹, Qari Muhammad Hussain¹, Sohaib Afzal¹

1Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

2Department of Agronomy, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan

3Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, Chiniot, Pakistan

4Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

5Regional Agricultural Economic Development Centre, Vehari, Pakistan

 Abstract

An experiment was conducted to check the brassica water extract as natural growth regulator in improving the seedling development of wheat and chickpea. Experimental treatments included five low concentration levels of brassica water extract as 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3% as foliar spray. Two other treatments where no spray and water was used as foliar spray, were considered as control treatments. To compare the efficacy of natural growth regulator, a synthetic source was also maintained among foliar sprays in the form of 6-Benzylaminopurine. In conclusion, results of the experiment concluded that 2% brassica water extract was most effect level to maximally boost the seedling characteristics like shoot/root biomass, shoot/root length and number of leaves till 20 days after germination. However, this level varied in case of chickpea where a bit higher concentration, 3% yielded maximum outcomes to the recorded parameters. So, findings of the study suggest that growth promotion potential of crops like brassica should be exploited in sustainable agriculture systems.

Keywords: Crop extract, Growth regulators, Seedling enhancement, Foliar spray

Ioanna Tabaxi¹, Charikleia Ζisi¹, Stella Karydogianni¹, Antigoni-Eleni Folina¹, Ioanna Kakabouki¹, Apostolos Kalivas², Dimitrios Bilalis¹

¹Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

²Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, DEMETER, Thermi, Greece

Abstract

Greece is a country that primarily cultivates tobacco. Over the years and the increase of inputs to conventional tobacco cultivation and the groundwater nitrate pollution, producers and industry began to look at organic farming. However, for the field crop of tobacco knowledge is limited to inorganic fertilization only and it is necessary now to find out the effect of organic fertilization on soil, yield and quality of tobacco. Therefore, two-year field experiments were carried out during 2017-2018 in Agricultural University of Athens. Three oriental tobacco varieties were cultivated (Basmas Xanthi 81, Katerini S53 and Myrodata Agriniou 30Α) in split-plot design, with four fertilization treatments (Control, Compost, Manure and NPK). According to the results, the yield was significantly affected only by the variety and the highest yield was 3.488 (kg ha-1) in Myrodata Agriniou variety.  The plant height was significantly affected by variety and ranged from 110,77 cm (Basmas Xanthi)  to 121.42 cm (Myrodata Agriniou). The number of leaves was significantly affected only by the variety; Katerini S53 had the highest number. The nicotine content was significantly affected by variety and year and ranged between 2.52% (Myrodata Agriniou) and 4.22 % (Basmas Xanthi). As nicotine increases, sugars finally decrease with the application of organic fertilizers. Summarizing, most of the soil characteristics significantly affected by the fertilization and showed generally improvement. The plant growth and the final yield was determined by the variety. With organic tobacco cultivation, the quality and yields of oriental varieties have improved significantly.

Keywords: Nicotine content, Organic fertilization, Oriental tobacco, Yield

Tuba Rehman¹, Saima Naz¹, Riaz Hussain^2*, Ahmad Manan Mustafa Chatha³, Fayyaz Ahmad⁴, Asma Yamin¹, Rabia Akram⁵, Huma Naz⁶, Ansar Shaheen¹

¹Department of Zoology, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

²Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

³Department of Entomology, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan; ⁴Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

⁵Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bhauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

⁶Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

Expansion in technology, development in industries and extensive applications of synthetic chemical have become major regulatory issues toward the public health, wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the monitoring and investigation of environmental contaminants in order to mitigate the adverse impacts is crucial to safe the public health and aquatic wildlife. The present study describes the deleterious effects of heavy metals at low levels in fresh water fish. A total of 120 fish of same age and body mass were arbitrarily distributed and allocated into eight groups (A-H). Group A was run parallel to other groups and maintained as control group. Collected data was analyzed by using Tukey’s Test. Results indicated various clinical ailments including erratic swimming and jerking movement. Microscopic observation of gills, liver and brain tissues showed different histopathological changes in fish exposed to various heavy metals. The antioxidant enzymes activities were increased or decreased in a concentration and enzyme dependent manner. Exposure of treatments showed significant increase in peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase but decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity at higher exposure to heavy metals. Regarding overall toxicity, nickel was least sensitive towards the fish, but tertiary metal mixture was more toxic to fish (Oreochromis niloticus) followed by binary mixture. In conclusion, results of our study suggested that the exposure to different heavy metals even at low concentrations poses serious concern towards their potential danger to the survival and growth of fish and induces deleterious effects in gills, brain and liver tissues.

Keywords: Heavy Metals, Oreochromis niloticus, Liver, Antioxidant Enzymes, Histopathology

Noosheen Zahid¹, Muhammad Jamil Ahmed¹, Majid Mahmood Tahir², Mehdi Maqbool^1*, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah¹, Sundas Jamshaid Hussain¹, Abdul Khaliq², Muhammad Ishaq Asif Rehmani³

¹Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

²Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

³Department of Agronomy, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan

Abstract

Application of organic manures with inorganic fertilizers is considered helpful in maintaining the crop productivity and improving soil fertility. Therefore, in this regard, current study was designed to determine the efficacy of urea and poultry manure (PM) either alone or in combination on growth, yield, and postharvest quality of cucumber cv. Summer Green in a field experiment at Rawalakot. This study comprised of six different treatments including urea (120 kg N ha^-1), PM (120 kg N ha^-1), urea + PM (90 + 30 kg N ha^-1), urea + PM (60 + 60 kg N ha^-1), urea + PM (30 + 90 kg N ha^-1) and a control. It was organized according to randomized complete block design each with three replicates. Results showed that application of urea and PM either alone or in combination significantly affected cucumber growth, yield and postharvest quality. However, integration of urea with PM yielded better results as compared to other treatments. Among integrated treatments, application of urea @ 90 kg N ha^-1 and PM @ 30 kg N ha^-1 showed about 26% increase in plant height, 30% increase in leaf area and 32% increase in number of leaves plant^-1. Similarly, fruit weight, postharvest quality and N uptake efficiency were also increased by 36%, 39% and 50%, respectively. Moreover, application of urea with PM also improved soil organic matter, total N, available P and K by 53%, 67%, 38% and 25%, respectively. Thus, the results of present study suggested that integration of urea with PM could be a feasible option for sustainable cucumber production.

Keywords: Crop yield, Inorganic fertilizer, Organic fertilizer, Quality attributes, Soil properties

Muhammad Aslam Farooqi¹, Muhammad Naveed Aslam^2*, Asif Sajjad¹, Waseem Akram¹, Aneeqa Maqsood³

¹Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

²Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

³Department of Entomology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand the effect of abiotic factors on the foraging behavior of two native honeybee species (Apis dorsata and A. florea) andits ultimate impact on reproductive success of Brassica napus L. Foraging behavior of honeybees was studied in terms of visitation rate, visitation frequency, stay time on flower, stigma contact events, nectar robbing and pollen grain deposition on stigma. Simple linear regression model was used to find relationship between foraging behavior parameters and abiotic factors including ambient temperature, light intensity, wind speed and relative humidity. The results showed that A. dorsata had statistically higher visitation rate (54.23±1.307 flowers/300 seconds), number of stigma contact events (0.98±0.008) and pollen deposition (287.72±6.58 pollens) than A. florea i.e. 22.65±0.808 flower/300 seconds, 0.51±0.032 events and 154.83±7.83 pollens, respectively. The linear regression analysis showed that the stay time and nectar robbing of A. dorsata was not affected by any of the abiotic factors. Visitation frequency had negative relationship with all the abiotic factors. Stigma contact time decreased with the increase in temperature and increased with the increase in light intensity. In case of A. florea, stigma contact time had no relationship with any of the abiotic factor. Visitation rate and stay time were affected by light intensity. However, the value of R² did not exceed 0.25 in all these significant relationships. Nectar robbing events increased with the increase in relative humidity and decreased with the increase in wind speed. Apis dorsata was more efficient pollinator of B. napus than A. florea in terms of seed weight per pod and germination percentage.

Keywords: Abiotic factors, Honeybees, Brassica napus, Reproductive success

Yustina Carolina Febrianti Salsinha¹, Maryani², Didik Indradewa³, Yekti Asih Purwestri^1,4, Diah Rachmawati^1*

¹Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Tropical Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

²Laboratory of Plant Structure and Development, Department of Tropical Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

³Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

⁴Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

The ability of rice plants to cope with drought is supported by several parameters, including the structure of the root organ for water absorption. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the root tissues that play a role in supporting local rice plants during drought. This study was conducted by comparing 18 East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur [NTT]) local rice cultivars with two comparative drought-tolerant and drought-susceptible cultivars under drought stress treatment using the fraction of transpirable soil water method with levels 1 (control) and 0.2 (severe stress). Morphological measurement of plant growth and root phenotype, including root length and root dry weight, as well as plant height, number of leaves, and number of tillers, was conducted in the vegetative phase (46 days after planting). The collected root samples were prepared for anatomical slides using the paraffin embedding method and observed microscopically. Results showed the tendency of drought-tolerant plants to exhibit low reduction of the growth characteristics. In this study, drought tolerant rice cultivars (Pak Mutin, Boawae 100 Malam, and Kisol) tend to have root anatomical structure characterized by smaller root diameter, root area, cortical radius, vascular cylinder diameter, smaller cross-sectional of the vascular cylinder, and smaller metaxylem diameter with the higher number of metaxylem cells.  In addition, thicker root epidermal cells and more schlerenchyma cell layers were also observed.

Keywords: Drought tolerance, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Local rice, Root anatomy

Muhammad Adnan Bodlah¹, Imran Bodlah^2*, Muhammad Tariq Rasheed², Ammara Gull e Fareen^2,4, Kamran Ikram¹, Zafar Iqbal², Roshan Zada³

¹Fareed Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan

²Insect Biodiversity and Conservation Group, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

³Director Technical, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan

⁴Department of Environmental Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

 Abstract

Beetles belonging to family Coccinellidae are predators of various sucking insect pests, some of them are phytophageous. A lot of work for the exploration of these beetles has been done in Pakistan. Layyah being a multi crop area was selected as study area for the exploration of Coccinellidae beetles. A survey was conducted for the collection of Coccinellidae adult specimens from the territory of Layyah district of southern Punjab, Pakistan, during 2018-19. A total 568 adult specimens were collected from seven localities. Out of which, ladybird beetles belonging to seven genera, with ten species namely; Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758, Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius, 1798), Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius, 1775, Henosepilachna elaterii (Rossi, 1794), Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777), Scymnus (Pullus) quadrillum Motschulsky, 1858, Scymnus (Pullus) posticalis Sicard, 1913, Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus Mulsant, 1850,  Micraspis allardi (Mulsant, 1866), Pharoscymnus flexibilis (Mulsant, 1853), have been recorded with their prey and host plants for the first time from the surveyed area. The coccinellids distribution is also given and map was prepared by using ArcGIS map tool. Explored predatory beetles may be used as bio-control agents in the region for the management of various sucking insect pests of various crops, fruits vegetables etc.

Keywords: Ladybird beetles, Coccinellidae, Predators, Diversity, Taxonomy, Layyah, Punjab

Galabadage Indika Pavithrani Silva Makawita^1,2*, Indira Wickramasinghe², Isuru Wijesekara²

¹Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

²Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Due to the increasing levels of the world population, the demand for agricultural products has also increased over the years. Enhancing the yield and nutrient content of food products is therefore an important aspect in the current context. Experiments were conducted at both lab-scale and field level with extractions from Sargassum sp., to assess the growth of the plant, crop production, and nutrient content of Vigna radiata. A lab-scale experiment was conducted to identify and distinguish the germination percentage and seedling vigor of Sargassum treated and non-treated seeds. This included the application of a concentration series of polysaccharides and a concentration series of crude seaweed extract. The highest germination percentage was observed at 8% polysaccharide content and 15% liquid seaweed extraction (LSE) content resulting in 14% and 8% of germination increment against the control. When increasing the polysaccharide and LSE content exceeding the above-stated values, germination rate and seedling vigor dropped. When applied as foliar applications, an increment of pods against the control showed an increment of 28%, which is the maximum increment reached the 10% LSE concentration. With the polysaccharide application, the maximum yield increment was 31% with 10% concentration. Also, the dry weight content of seeds and the number of pods per plant and seed per pod have increased considerably. Further, both polysaccharide and LSE applications have increased the micronutrient and protein content in seeds. Therefore, it is recommended to use the LSE at 15% concentration and polysaccharide at 8% concentration at the germination stage and as a foliar application to increase the yield and nutrient content of the Vigna radiata plant.

Keywords: Bio-fertilizer, Germination, Seaweeds, Sargassum sp., Vigna radiata