Papers by Muhammad Amjad Bashir
Sustainability, Aug 1, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Frontiers in sustainable food systems, Mar 2, 2023
Water is an important natural element of our environment, and its management and security are als... more Water is an important natural element of our environment, and its management and security are also serious concerns. Agricultural non-point source pollution (NPSP) is one of the major sources of contaminants causing water quality degradation. A riparian bu er zone is a vegetative cover adjacent to water channels that positively contributes to pollutant filtration and sediment trapping. It has the potential to filter nutrients, reduce nutrients and pesticide leakage, provide habitat and protection against floods, minimize erosion issues, improve biodiversity and ecological connectivity, and add aesthetics to the area. Moreover, it is inexpensive and requires little maintenance making bu er zone an attractive approach to NPSP control. In this review, we have enlightened the e ects of the riparian bu er zone on water quality and agricultural NPSP and how its structures and mechanisms contribute to controlling water pollution e ectively. We conclude that the riparian bu er zone is an e ective technique for water safety, NPSP control, and creating a suitable environment for terrestrial and aquatic species. Moreover, it has the potential to reduce the water temperature due to the shading e ect and sustain water habitat acting as a climate adaptation tools. Bu er zones should be adopted for agricultural non-point source pollution and achieve environmental sustainability. However, the long-term influence of the riparian bu er zone on trapping NPS pollutants, soil properties, and groundwater quality is s research gap.
Frontiers in Plant Science, Aug 8, 2022
Biostimulants induce positive changes in the radish morpho-physiology and yield. Front. Plant Sci... more Biostimulants induce positive changes in the radish morpho-physiology and yield. Front. Plant Sci. :. doi: .
Sustainability, Apr 13, 2022
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Phyton-international Journal of Experimental Botany, 2023
Sustainability, Mar 12, 2022
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Pakistan Journal of Botany, Apr 1, 2021
Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) are essential nutrients, and play key role in many physiological proc... more Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) are essential nutrients, and play key role in many physiological processes. The current study aims to identify their interactive impacts (i) in soil and plant body, (ii) on maize physiology and (iii) on production. A field experiment was conducted to assess the potassium co-fertilization with zinc sources and doses. The treatments were (kg ha-1) as: K0 +Zn0, K0 + Zn16, K0 + Zn24, K60 +Zn0, K60 +Zn16, K60 +Zn24, K100 + Zn0, K100 + Zn16 and K100 + Zn24. Murate of potash (MOP) for K, Chelated Zinc (Zn-EDTA; S1) and Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO 4 ; S2) were the sources of Zn fertilization. Results revealed that co-fertilization have significantly improved maize productivity, and physiological traits. Plant height was significantly increased (27%), cob length (50%), 1000-grain weight (25%), dry weight (203%), membrane stability (191%), relative water content (170%), photosynthesis rate (237%), transpiration rate (353%), stomatal conductance (254%), internal CO 2 (105%) and chlorophyll contents (185%) with MOP + Zn-EDTA fertilization at K60 + Zn16 treatment as compared to control. Moreover, straw K and grain K contents were also improved with combined K and Zn fertilization, while straw and grain Zn was higher with sole Zn application. It is concluded that co-fertilization of MOP + Zn-EDTA at K60 + Zn16 (kg ha-1) is beneficial for productivity, and physiological traits of maize in calcareous soils.
Phyton
The increasing world population has forced excessive chemical fertilizer and irrigation to comple... more The increasing world population has forced excessive chemical fertilizer and irrigation to complete the global food demand, deteriorating the water quality and nutrient losses. Short-term studies do not compile the evidences; therefore, the study aimed to identify the effectiveness of reduced doses of inorganic fertilizer and water-saving practices, hence, a six-year experiment (2015-2020) was conducted in China to address the knowledge gap. The experimental treatments were: farmer accustomed fertilization used as control (525:180:30 kg NPK ha −1), fertilizer decrement (450:150:15 kg NPK ha −1), fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation (450:150:15 kg NPK ha −1), application of organic and inorganic fertilizer + water-saving irrigation (375:120:0 kg NPK ha −1 + 4.5 tones organic fertilizer ha −1), and application of controlled-release fertilizer (80:120:15 kg NPK ha −1). Each treatment was replicated thrice following a randomized complete block design. The results achieved herein showed that control has the highest losses in the six-year study for total nitrogen (225.97 mg L −1), total soluble nitrogen (121.58 mg L −1), nitrate nitrogen (0.93 mg L −1), total phosphorus (0.57 mg L −1), and total soluble phosphorus (0.57 mg L −1) respectively. Reduced fertilizer and water application improved crop nutrient uptake, nitrogen concentration was significantly enhanced with organic and inorganic fertilizer + water-saving irrigation, P concentration was increased with fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation, and K concentration was improved with fertilizer decrement + water-saving irrigation. Hence, this study concludes that reduced inorganic fertilizer dose combined with water-saving practices is significantly helpful in reducing nutrient leaching losses and improving nutrient uptake and water pollution. Further studies are needed to explore the impacts of reduced fertilization and water-saving irrigation on leaching losses. The benefits at different climatic conditions, soil types, and fertilizer types with application methods are also a research gap.
Climate Change - Recent Observations [Working Title]
Climate change is a global threat to food security as it causes various biotic and abiotic stress... more Climate change is a global threat to food security as it causes various biotic and abiotic stresses that adversely disturb agriculture production. With an increase in the worldwide population, the demand for food has also arisen. It is an immediate challenge for the scientific community to introduce an innovative tool to achieve food security with quality plant production and develop tolerance against abiotic stresses, specifically drought. Genetically modifications are effective and time-consuming, while biostimulants are in/organic substances with the potential to support plant development under stress conditions. This chapter focuses on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, challenges for agriculture sustainability and food security, the interrelationship between drought, climate change and food security, the potential role of biostimulants against drought, future aspects and challenges due to climate change specifically drought, and food security challenges. Various stud...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture
Sustainability, 2021
Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) are mineral nutrients required for adequate plant growth, enzyme acti... more Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) are mineral nutrients required for adequate plant growth, enzyme activation, water retention and photosynthetic activities. However, Pakistani soils are alkaline and have serious problems regarding Zn deficiency. The current study aims at finding the nutrient–nutrient interaction of K and Zn to affect maize plants’ (i) physiological processes and (ii) productivity. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted at the research area of the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Two maize genotypes, DK-6142 (hybrid) and Neelam (non-hybrid), were used with three K fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 60 and 100 kg ha−1 in all possible combinations with three Zn fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 16 and 24 kg ha−1. The treatments were replicated under a completely randomized block design. The results elucidated that the combined application of K and Zn with K60 + Zn16 treatment significantly increase...
Plant Hormones - Recent Advances, New Perspectives and Applications [Working Title], 2022
Climate change is an emerging issue for modern agriculture and has generated biotic and abiotic s... more Climate change is an emerging issue for modern agriculture and has generated biotic and abiotic stresses for plants such as cold, high temperature, heat, drought, uneven rainfall, and UV radiations. In addition to these, serious stress factors are emerging related to water availability, nutrient cycling, salinity-sodicity, and pest attacks. In recent years, such phenomena have attracted the research community to avoid the fatal influence of climate change on crop production and obtain more food helping in fulfillment of increasing food demand of population surge. The anthropogenic activities in the agroecosystem are among the major causes for global warming and proportion in climate change. Therefore, it is assumed that identifying various plant hormones and their utilization to improve plant metabolic activities would help maintain plant growth, survival, and production under severe climate change circumstances. This chapter focuses on identifying the key aspects of plant hormones ...
Pakistan Journal of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Sciences, 2021
Understanding the dynamics of potassium (K) and its availability is fundamental in its efficient ... more Understanding the dynamics of potassium (K) and its availability is fundamental in its efficient use as an important nutrient. The objectives of present study were to compare standard K extraction methods for extractable K and kinetics of K adsorption on five different textured soils. The soils were analyzed for physico-chemical properties, extractable K contents and kinetics of K adsorption. The soils had variable contents of soluble (8-52mg kg-1), exchangeable (13-215mg kg-1), fixed (488-1836mg kg-1), structural (2936-26362mg kg-1) and total K (3438-28517mg kg-1). Except soluble K, the amount of K in different forms was significantly (P?0.05) correlated with clay contents, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and calcium carbonate in soils. Different methods variated the extracted K in different textured soils. Mehlich-III, ammonium acetate, AB-DTPA, and calcium chloride extracted K was maximum in sandy clay loam (298mg kg-1, 267mg kg?1, 226mg kg-1, and 113...
International Journal of Plant Production, 2017
Phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient and is deficient in most of the agricul... more Phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient and is deficient in most of the agricultural soils based on higher retention with soil and poor recovery from the applied fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted in 2009-2012 in which different organic wastes of agricultural and industrial origin with inorganic P fertilizer to improve crop yield, P use efficiency and physic-chemical properties of soils in salt affected soils under rice-wheat cropping system. The treatments included; P at farmer practice, P on soil need basis, PoM + chemical fertilizer (1:1), MSWC + chemical fertilizer (1:1), PrM + chemical fertilizer (1:1) and FM + chemical fertilizer (1:1). Analysis showed that nutrients source significantly improved vegetative and yield attributes of rice and wheat crops. However, application of PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of both crops and soil physic-chemical properties than all the other treatments. The effectiveness of treatments could be arrange as PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > FM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > MSWC + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > PrM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis > P on soil need basis > P at farmer practice, respectively. In conclusion, integration of organic and chemical P fertilizer resulted in well-balanced nutrient management plan. Application of PoM + chemical fertilizer on soil need basis is recommended as an effective and economical integrated nutrient management practice enhancing productivity of rice-wheat crop and improving physical and chemical properties of salt affected soils.
Water, 2021
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropic... more Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and the primary purpose is to obtain raw sugar. It is an important substance for sugar and alcohol production by both the sugar and beverage industries. During cane processing, various byproducts are obtained, namely sugarcane bagasse, bagasse ash, pressmud cake, sugarcane vinasse, and spent wash. There are many challenging problems in storage, and they cause great environmental pollution. This review discusses their properties by which they can be used for cleaner agricultural and environmental sustainability. Utilization of byproducts results in value-added soil properties and crop yield. Replacing chemical fertilization with these organic natured byproducts not only minimizes the surplus usage of chemical fertilizers but is also cost-effective and an eco-friendly approach. The drawbacks of the long-term application of these byproducts in the agricultural ecosystem are no...
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021
Abstract The traditional co-culture systems have attained the attention for better production, st... more Abstract The traditional co-culture systems have attained the attention for better production, still have gaps to identify key factors influencing the safe grain production, yield enhancement, and economic viability. Here, a field survey and a field experiment was conducted in Panjin city, including two production systems: rice-monoculture (RM) and RC system. The treatments of field experiments were: rice-monoculture (RM), 3000 crabs ha−1 without feed (RC3000), 6000 crabs ha−1 with feed (RC6000), and 12000 crabs ha−1 with 2 × feed (RC12000). During field survey, higher number of crabs reduced the number of productive tillers while, the productive traits were improved significantly except 1000-grain weight was insignificant. Field experiment indicated that suitable stocking density and feed management has no negative effect on agronomic or productive trait. Grain yield was improved (19.9%) in RC3000, (22.0%) in RC6000, and (14.7%) in RC12000 as compared to RM. The reduction in shrivelled grains spike−1, and the increase in filled grains spike−1, seed setting percentage, and 1000-grain weight in RC system improved the rice production. Grain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents were also improved by RC6000. Farm income and benefit-cost ratio were higher in RC system, meanwhile, the maximum farm production (16231-yuan ha−1) and benefit-cost ratio (0.51) were in RC6000. The RC system can control drained out water nutrients concentrations, which helps in water pollution control. The results suggested that RC system improves the clean grain and farm production, resource utilization, and the economic status with managed optimum stocking density and feed.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021
Sugar industry produces a variety of organic byproducts causing disposal as well as environmental... more Sugar industry produces a variety of organic byproducts causing disposal as well as environmental issues. This study investigated the safe use of these byproducts in assessment of soil physicochemical properties and metal accumulation in rice. A field experiment was performed with following treatments: control only NPK (CF), NPK + sugarcane bagasse (SB), NPK + press mud (PM), NPK + sugarcane vinasse (SV), NPK + SB + PM (SB + PM), NPK + SB + SV (SB + SV), NPK + PM + SV (PM + SV), NPK + SB + PM + SV (SB + PM + SV). Total byproduct input was (1.25 t ha−1) as recommended for organic inputs in the local area. The results indicated that integrated use of these amendments with chemical fertilization improved soil properties and rice yield. Organic matter was significantly improved in SB + SV (191.3%), SB + PM + SV (164.4%), and SB + PM (150.9%). Total N was significantly enhanced in SB + SV (193%), SB + PM + SV (166%), and SB + PM (152.5%); extractable P was high in SB (103%), PM + SV (89.7%), and SB + PM (51%); extractable K was significantly improved in PM (39.6%) and SB (33.4%); extractable Zn was significantly enhanced in SB (1172.8%), SV (829.2%) and PM (819.1%) in soil. Rice grain yield was significantly enhanced in SB (213.1%) and PM (208.8%) while combined application also improved the yield with reference to the CF. The application of SB + PM improved N (58.7%), P (27.4%), K (11.5%), and Zn (166.4%) concentration in grain, while metal accumulation was within the permissible limit. Zn concentration was significantly enhanced in SB + PM (166.4%) whereas the concentration of Cd and Pb was significantly reduced with the application of byproducts. Health assessment results showed no harmful effects for humans. Results conclude that these byproducts are good nutrients source and improve soil physicochemical properties without any health hazards.
Plants, 2021
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop used for feeding humans and cattle globally. Deficiency ... more Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop used for feeding humans and cattle globally. Deficiency of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) adversely impacts the maize crop productivity and quality. However, the application of these nutrients shows variant responses in different maize cultivars. To understand this perspective, the current study aimed at investigating K and Zn’s optimal concentration in different hybrid and inbred maize cultivars. The treatments were based on three zinc levels (0, 6, and 12 mg Zn kg−1) and K levels (0, 30, and 60 mg kg−1), and their respective combinations. The experiment results showed that combined fertilization approaches of Zn and K (Zn12K60) improved the plant biometric, and physiological attributes of maize crop. The results revealed a significant increase in plant height (45%), fresh weight (70%), and dry weight (45%). Similarly, physiological attributes significantly improved the relative water content (76.4%), membrane stability index (77.9%), chlorophy...
Technology in Agriculture, 2021
Plant growth stimulators (growth regulators + biostimulants; PGS) are chemical substances (organi... more Plant growth stimulators (growth regulators + biostimulants; PGS) are chemical substances (organic/inorganic), helpful in plant growth and development. These are not considered as the replacement of fertilizers but can help in improved crop and soil quality. Both compounds can amplify the root biomass, nutrients translocation, enzymatic activities, crop yield, physiology, and nutrient uptake. Biostimulants are rich in minerals, vitamins, plant hormones, oligosaccharides, and amino acids. These compounds have a serious role to improve soil health, fertility, sorption, and desorption of nutrients. Hence, have a vital character in nutrients cycling, abiotic stress control, heavy metals bioavailability, and greenhouse gaseous emission. This chapter focuses on the discussions about the influence of plant growth regulators and biostimulants in crop production, soil health, heavy metal cycling, greenhouse gases emission with environmental sustainability. Whereas, the impact of biostimulant...
Agronomy, 2021
Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of radish crops against different pla... more Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of radish crops against different plant growth regulators, biostimulants, and leaf extracts at Yale University, USA. The first experiment examined the marginal effect of vitamin B12 when added to the Berlyn Laboratory’s proprietary biostimulant formula (GPB Core). Increasing concentrations of vitamin B12 were added, as investigated in groups SL (0 mg/L), SB1 (0.5 mg/L), SB2 (1.0 mg/L), and SB3 (1.5 mg/L). The addition of vitamin B12 conferred no significant incremental benefit over the GPB Core. However, the GPB Core formula (SL) increased fresh shoot biomass by 172.9%, dry shoot biomass by 136.4%, fresh root biomass by 64.7%, and dry root biomass by 29.1% over plant treated with inorganic fertilizer alone (p < 0.01). The second experiment examined the combined marginal effect of vitamin B12 and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) when added to the GPB Core. The three experimental groups included the GPB Core plus inorganic fertilizer ...
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Papers by Muhammad Amjad Bashir
chemical substances (organic/inorganic), helpful in plant growth and development. These are not considered as the replacement of fertilizers but can help in improved crop and soil quality. Both compounds can amplify the root biomass, nutrients translocation, enzymatic activities, crop yield, physiology, and nutrient uptake. Biostimulants are rich in minerals, vitamins, plant hormones, oligosaccharides, and amino acids. These compounds have a serious role to improve soil health, fertility,
sorption, and desorption of nutrients. Hence, have a vital character in nutrients cycling, abiotic stress control, heavy metals bioavailability, and greenhouse gaseous emission. This chapter focuses on the discussions about the influence of plant growth regulators and biostimulants in crop production, soil health, heavy metal cycling, greenhouse gases emission with environmental sustainability. Whereas, the impact of biostimulants on greenhouse gases is a research gap.