|
|
| Journal of Agricultural and
Biological Science August 2006 | Vol.1 No.2 |
|
Title: |
Effect of boron supply on the uptake of
micronutrients by radish (raphanus sativus l.) |
|
Author (s): |
M. Tariq and C. J. B. Mott |
|
Abstract: |
The present study was
based on the hypothesis that Boron (B) induces changes of other
micronutrients in soil-plant systems. A preliminary study was carried
out in sand culture growing radish (cv. French breakfast) as a test
crop, under green house conditions. The experiment was laid out in a
randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Boron was
applied at the rate of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg B L-1as
H3BO3 along with a basal dose of modified complete nutrient solution
based on the Long Ashton Formula. Results revealed that significant
treatment effects were found on the growth response of radish plants,
and maximum yield was recorded at 0.5 mg L-1 of added B. Toxic effects
accompanied by considerable yield decreases was observed at higher
levels of B supply. The concentrations of B, Zn and Cu in plants were
increased and Fe, Mn and Mo were decreased. The total uptake of all
micronutrients except B decreased with increasing levels of B in the
nutrient solution, and showed close similarity to the growth response of
radish plants. Generally, low and high levels of added B had interactive
effects on the concentration and total uptake of micronutrients.
Moreover, Zn/Cu ratio increased and Mn/Zn and Mn/Fe decreased, while
Fe/Cu showed inconsistent trend with increasing B levels in the nutrient
solution. Differences in the concentration and total uptake of
micronutrients occurred because of (a) nutrient concentration or
dilution in the radish plants, and (b) nutrient distribution among the
root and top of plants. Differences arising purely from differential
distribution could be eliminated if the composition of the entire plant
is considered as a unit. It was however, evident that B supply had
specific effects with respect to different micronutrients. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Effect of different levels of feed added
turmeric (curcuma longa) on the performance of broiler chicks
|
|
Author (s): |
F. R. Durrani, Mohammad
Ismail, Asad Sultan, S. M. Suhail, Naila Chand
and Z. Durrani |
|
Abstract: |
This study was planned
to investigate the effect of different levels of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
on the overall performance of broiler chicks. Four experimental rations
designated as A, B, C and D having 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% Turmeric
(Curcuma longa) was fed to 160 broiler chicks, randomly distributed into
16 replicate, so as to have 4 replicate per treatment and 10 chicks per
replicate. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Average weight gain, feed
consumption, feed efficiency, dressing percentage, breast weight, thigh
weight, mortality and economics were used as a criteria of response.
Organ weight including heart, liver and gizzard was also recorded. The
mean body weight gain per chick was 646, 547, 734 and 592 g (P<0.05) in
starter phase and 765, 763, 881 and 720 g (P<0.05) in finisher phase for
groups A, B, C and D, respectively. The average feed consumption per
chick was 1080, 994, 874 and 945 g (P<0.05) in starter phase and 1809,
1796, 1690 and 1793 g in finisher phase for groups A, B, C and D,
respectively. The average feed efficiency (feed/gain) was 1.6, 1.5, 1.2
and 1.6 in starter phase, while 2.2, 2.3, 2.0 and 2.5 (P<0.05) in
finisher phase for group A, B, C and D, respectively. The mean dressing
percentage was 51, 51, 55 and 50 (P<0.05) for groups A, B, C and D,
respectively. The mean breast weight was 71, 73, 83 and 73 g (P<0.05),
while mean thigh weight was 70, 73, 83 and 73 g (P<0.05) for groups A,
B, C and D, respectively. The average weight of liver was 3.5, 3.1, 3.2
and 3.2 g (P>0.05) and the average weight of heart was 8.2, 8.6, 9.0 and
8.0 g (P>0.05) for groups A, B, C and D, respectively. The mean gizzard
weight was 26, 27, 29 and 27 g (P>0.05); the average cost of feed per kg
of body weight gain was Rs. 34, 33, 30 and 32. The cost of feed per kg
weight gain was highly favourable in treatment C (5 g) as compared to
other treatments indicating economic viability of using Turmeric
(Curcuma longa) as anti-fungle and anti-oxidant @ 5 g/kg of feed.
Mortality was 2.5%, 0%, 0% and 2.5% (P>0.05) for groups A, B, C and D,
respectively. It was concluded that the use of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
as feed additive at level of 0.5% enhances the overall performance of
broiler chicks. Research to investigate the effect of different levels
of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in layers and
breeders is recommended. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Weeds as human food- a conquest for
cheaper mineral sources |
|
Author (s): |
Iftikhar Alam Khattak, Ijaz Ahmad Khan and
Wajahat Nazif |
|
Abstract: |
This study was
conducted in April to September 2005 in Peshawar. The aim of the study
was to analyze weeds, usually used as vegetables, for their mineral
composition and to find out their consumption in the female subjects of
the area. Two leafy weeds, used as non-conventional vegetables, were
analyzed for selected mineral composition. Amarnath (Amaranthus dubius)
and wild onion (Brodiaea capitata) appeared to have different levels of
minerals. Amarnath had the highest iron content (34.2 mg/100 g) followed
by wild onion leaves (6.9 mg/100g). The Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn
contents of amarnath were 721.2, 654.8, 812.5, 3.8, 1.1, and 4.3/100g,
respectively. The contents of these minerals in wild onion leaves were
45.5, 56.9, 154.7, 0.56, 0.68, and 2.98, mg/100g, respectively. The poor
families used these weeds abundantly during the season and also they
dried them for off season use. Thus these contribute good part of the
female RDA’s for these minerals. The intake of these weeds by female
subjects (n = 107, mean age =34.5±7.8) of the study show that these
vegetables contributed 41 to 79 % of the RDA’s of these minerals of the
female subjects of the study locality. The conclusion of the study is
that edible weeds can be proved to be good sources of nutrients for
human consumption. Further work is needed on the chemical composition of
all weeds used as human diet. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Utilization of natural
resources for increase crop production |
|
Author (s): |
M. S. Sarir and M.
Ilyas Durrani |
|
Abstract: |
Pakistan has
Predominant agrarian economic posture. God has blessed us with abundant
wealth of natural resources and if utilized properly, it can enable our
agriculture to produce much more food, than the present. Studies have
shown that Pakistan’s low rank coal have sizeable amounts of humic acid
(HA), which can be utilized in agriculture as an organic manure. In the
present paper, research on the potential benefits for increase
agriculture production has been discussed. The study corroborated that
application of HA enhanced availability of plant nutrients and
concomitant increase in yield and yield components of maize crop. This
mysterial material “The Cell of Creation” (Qur’-an 23-12) not only act
as multi-nutrient pool, but also make the soil environment more
conducive for enzymatic activities which antagonize root diseases. It
can be advocated that the cumulative effect would be far better than
both, direct and residual on soil physical, chemical and biological
properties and thus agricultural production. Since it is used in very
low concentration (0.0007-0.002%), locally available in abundance and is
therefore very cheap and can play important role in the economics
prosperity of Pakistan. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Evaluation of water quality of upper
Warsak gravity canal for irrigation with respect to heavy metals |
|
Author (s): |
Sajida Perveen, Wajahat Nazif, Rahimullah
and Hameedullah Shah |
|
Abstract: |
The present research
study was designed to analyze the impact of irrigation water of upper
Warsak gravity canal on soil and plants. The water samples were
collected and analyzed for pH, EC and heavy metals Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd, Ni,
Pb and Cr. The pH of irrigation water ranged from 7.91 to 8.00 with an
average value of 8.07. The electrical conductivity of irrigation water
ranged from 0.24 to 0.27 dSm-1 with an average value of 0.25 dSm-1.
Heavy metals Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr content of irrigation water
ranged from 0.11 – 0.15, 0.58 – 1.81, 0.32 – 3.15, 0.003 – 0.287, 0.01 –
2.27, 0.05 – 1.114 and 0.0080 – 0.27 mg L-1, respectively. Water of
upper Warsak gravity canal was slightly high in pH, but not as high to
induce any problem in soil for plant growth. The EC of all the water
samples was within the permissible limits and was suitable for
irrigation. The heavy metal concentration of Zn and Cr were found below
toxic range, while Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd and Ni were found in excessive
quantities at some locations. Therefore, this source of water cannot be
used for irrigating crops directly consumed by human beings. Soil
irrigated with this water was also studied for pH, EC and heavy metals.
The pH and EC of the soil samples ranged from 7.88 – 9.01, and 0.10 –
0.73 dSm-1, respectively, with an average value of 8.37 and 0.170dSm-1,
respectively. AB-DTPA extractable Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr ranged
from 0.804 – 1.54, 1.360 – 4.742, 3.396 – 21.960, 0.004 – 0.572, 0.22 –
3.66, 0.04 – 6.02 and 0.06 – 1.42 mg kg-1, respectively. Zinc, Ni, Pb
and Cr were found below toxic level, while Cu, Fe and Cd were in
excessive quantities. Plants grown on these soils were also studied for
heavy metals Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd, Ni, Pb and Cr, and it was noted that with
the exception of Zn, Ni and Cr rest of the metals were found in
excessive quantities. It was concluded that the water of upper Warsak
gravity canal is polluted with heavy metals and those crops, which are
utilized directly by human beings such as reddish, carrot, cucumber and
salad etc. should be avoided to irrigate with such water at some points. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Accelerating the growth of araucaria
heterophylla seedlings through different gibberellic acid concentrations
and nitrogen levels |
|
Author (s): |
Hazrat Gul, Abdul Mateen Khattak and
Noorul Amin |
|
Abstract: |
A study was conducted
to see whether the growth of Araucaria heterophylla seedlings could be
hastened with the use of different gibberellic acid concentrations and
nitrogen levels. The gibberellic acid (GA) concentrations used were 0ppm
(control), 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 300 ppm, while nitrogen (N) levels were
0g N pot-1 (control), 1.0g N pot-1 and 2.0g N pot-1. The effect both the
GA and N was substantial for all the growth parameters studied. Maximum
plant height (42.4 cm), stem thickness (1.43 cm), lateral branch length
(22.7 cm), internode length (8.6 cm), root length (30.9 cm), root
thickness (1.18 cm), number of roots (15.3) and plant survival (97.8%)
were observed in plants treated with 300 ppm GA, while minimum values
for all the mentioned parameters were recorded in control. In case of
nitrogen dose, maximum plant height (36.1 cm), stem thickness (1.05 cm),
lateral branch length (19.4 cm), internode length (6.2 cm), root length
(25.5 cm), root thickness (0.89 cm), number of roots (11.8) and plant
survival (98.3%) were observed for plants supplied with 2.0g N per
plant, while the minimum for all the above parameters were found in
control. The interaction between different gibberellic acid
concentrations and nitrogen levels was non significant in case of all
the parameters studied. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Resistance of the maize variety ‘JALAL’
against corn leaf aphid, rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), its impact on
pest density and effects on yield and yield components |
|
Author (s): |
Shah Alam Khan, Naseer Hussain , A. U. R.
Saljoqi and Yousaf Hayat |
|
Abstract: |
The corn leaf aphid
Rhopalosiphum maidis, is a serious pest of maize whorl and inflicts
heavy losses to the crop, particularly when the plant is under drought
stress. Resistance in maize has been amply documented by various workers
and is reflective of the numbers of aphid present. An effort is made to
test the resistance of the newly released variety Jalal (Formerly known
as PSEV-3 by the Cereal Crop Research Institute Pirsabak), along with
two indigenous varieties, Azam and Sarhad white. Pesticides in three
different formulation with full and half strengths indicated that
imidacloprid as seed dressing with full marketable strength, resulted in
lowest aphid density, higher yield and yield components in the Jalal
variety, compared to granular and foliar formulations of Kadan and
dimethoate, respectively. The granular application with full
strength proved to be useful, as it stood second in its efficacy against
Rhopalosiphum maidis, but the foliar sprays failed to provide effective
protection against the pest. The mean yield of the three maize varieties
showed that Jalal is the most productive. It resulted in 2928.76kg of
grain per hectare compared to 2868 and 2814 kg per hectare in Azam and
Sarhad white, respectively. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Status of micronutrients in soils of
district Bhimber (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) |
|
Author (s): |
Wajahat Nazif, Sajida Perveen and Iftikhar
Saleem |
|
Abstract: |
A study of the
micronutrient status of soils of district Bhimber (Azad Jammu and
Kashmir) was made at 30 different locations. The objective of the
experiment was to study the status of micronutrients and their
relationship with various physiochemical properties. Soil samples were
collected at a depth of 0-30cm and analyzed for AB-DTPA extractable
Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese and hot water soluble Boron. The AB-DTPA
extractable Iron, Copper, Zinc and Manganese ranged from 5.37-23.36,
0.59-4.38, 0.74-2.08 and 4.59-21.08 mg kg-1. AB-DTPA extractable Iron,
Copper and Manganese was found high in all sites while Zinc was low in
26.66%, medium in 70% and high in 3.34% sites. Hot water soluble (HWS)
Boron ranged from 0.02-0.84mg kg-1. Hot water soluble Boron was found
low in 80% and medium in 20% sites. AB-DTPA extractable Iron and
Manganese gave negative significant correlation with soil pH and lime
content, Iron was positively significantly correlated with silt. Copper,
Zinc and hot water soluble Boron were positively significantly
correlated with organic matter. Both Iron and hot water soluble Boron
gave negative significant correlation with sand. Other physiochemical
properties of soil showed either negative or positive non-significant
correlation with micronutrient during the study. |
| |
|
|
|
Title: |
Effect of nitrogen on the growth and yield
of asparagus (asparagus officinalis) |
|
Author (s): |
Asghar Hussain, Fouzia Anjum, Abdur Rab
and Muhammad Sajid |
|
Abstract: |
An experiment was
conducted to study the effect of nitrogen i.e.0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1
on the growth and yield of asparagus varieties Atlas, Grande, Purple
Passion, Apollo, UC 157JI and Duke Verde at Horticultural Research Farm,
Malakandher, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during the years
2004 and 2005. The experiment was laid out as randomized complete block
design with split plot arrangement with three replications. Variety
Grande had significantly highest plant height (2.1m), number of spears
crown-1 (35.5), spear length (24.1cm), spear weight (34.0g) and yield
ha-1 (41.25t) and minimum of these were recorded in Duke Verde. In
nitrogen levels, 90 kg N ha -1 gave maximum plant height (2.3m), number
of branches plant-1 (12.2), plant weight (178.8g) and root weight
plant-1 (288.3g), number of spears crown-1 (34.1), spear length
(25.1cm), spear weight (32.2g ) and yield ha-1 (37.9t) . In interaction
between N levels and varieties, maximum number of spears crown-1(57.6),
spear length (26.2cm), spear weight (36.7g) and yield ha -1 (70.4t) were
recorded for variety Grande supplied with 90 kg N ha-1. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
