Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rock phosphate (RP) and farmyard m... more Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rock phosphate (RP) and farmyard manure (FYM) applied with and without effective microorganisms (EM) on the yields and plant P uptake of wheat and their residual effect on subsequent sunflower crop during Rabi 2008-09 and Kharif season 2009. The experiments were laid out according to the Split-Plot Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications with a plot size of 5m x 11m. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the effect of EM in main-plot was significant (p≤0.05) on 1000-grain weight, grain yield and total dry matter yield of wheat. The sub-plot, where various combinations of RP and FYM were applied also indicated significant (p≤0.05) effects on these parameters. Significant (p≤0.05) interaction between EM applied with RP and FYM was recorded for plant height, 1000-grain weight and grain yield, while non-significant for total dry matter yield of wheat. Plants N and P uptakes and post harvest soil ext...
Soil contains variety of the microscopic organism (bacteria, virus and fungi) and chemical compou... more Soil contains variety of the microscopic organism (bacteria, virus and fungi) and chemical compounds(organic and inorganic). This research work focus to calculate the physical and chemical parameter of theagriculture soil of selected land of Rawalpindi with addition to prokaryotes. Different methods were followed toassess the physiochemical characteristics. Further isolated bacteria were identified by gram staining,microscopy and different biochemical tests. Findings of this research revealed that the pH was neutral whichindicate the low availability of the nutrients for plants, apart from this all other physiochemical properties werein lower limits. Besides this fluorine ion were in range allotted by the WHO, but fluorine in the 0-21cm wasmore abundant than deeper layer (22-41). In targeted areas the site one has the higher concentration of thefluorine ion as compared to all other sites. In bacterial fauna Gram + bacteria were dominant in whichpredominant species was Arthrobacter. ...
Biochar prepared from various feedstock materials has been utilized in recent years as a potentia... more Biochar prepared from various feedstock materials has been utilized in recent years as a potential stabilizing agent for heavy metals in smelter-contaminated soils. However, the effectiveness of animal bone-derived biochar and its potential for the stabilization of contaminants remains unclear. In the present study, sheep bone-derived biochar (SB) was prepared at low (500 °C; SBL) and high temperatures (800 °C; SBH) and amended a smelter-contaminated soil at 2, 5, and 10% (w/w). The effects of SB on soil properties, bioavailable Zn and Cd and their geochemical fractions, bacterial community composition and activity, and the response of plant attributes (pigments and antioxidant activity) were assessed. Results showed that the SBH added at 10% (SBH10) increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, and also increased the oxidizable and residual Zn and Cd fractions at the expense of the bioavailable fractions. The SBH10 lowered the Zn and Cd contents in maize roots (by 57 and 60%) and shoot (by 42 and 61%), respectively, compared to unamended control. Additionally, SBH10 enhanced urease (98%) and phosphates (107%) activities, but reduced dehydrogenase (58%) and β-glucosidase (30%) activities. Regarding the effect of the pyrolysis temperature, SBH enhanced the activity of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, Verrucomicrobia, Chlorobi, and Microgenomates, but reduced Actinobacteria and Parcubacteria in comparison to SBL. However, only the SBL10 reduced the Proteobacteria community (by 9%). In conclusion, SB immobilized Zn and Cd in smelter-affected soils, enhanced the bacterial abundance and microbial function (urease, phosphates), and improved plant growth. However, validation of the results, obtained from the pot experiment, under field conditions is suggested.
Soil microbes influence the uptake of toxic metals (TMs) by changing soil characteristics, bioava... more Soil microbes influence the uptake of toxic metals (TMs) by changing soil characteristics, bioavailability and translocation of TMs, and soil health indicators in polluted environment. The potential effect of Streptomyces pactum (Act12) and Bacillus consortium (B. subtilis and B. licheniformis; 1:1) on soil enzymes and bacterial abundance, bioavailability and translocation of Zn and Cd by Symphytum officinale, and physiological indicators in soil acquired from Fengxian (FX) mining site. Act12 and Bacillus consortium were applied at 0 (CK), 0.50 (T1), 1.50 (T2), and 2.50 (T3) g kg-1 in a split plot design and three times harvested (H). Results showed that soil pH significantly dropped, whereas, electrical conductivity increased at higher Act12 and Bacillus doses. The extractable Zn lowered and Cd increased at each harvest compared to their controls. Soil β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and sucrase improved, whereas, dehydrogenase reduced in harvest 2 and 3 (H2 and H3) as compared to harvest 1 (H1) after Act12 and Bacillus treatments. The main soil phyla individually contributed ∼5-55.6%. Soil bacterial communities' distribution was also altered by Act12 and Bacillus amendments. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes increased, whereas, the Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes decreased during the one-year trial. The Zn and Cd concentration significantly decreased in shoots at each harvest, whereas, the roots concentration was far higher than the shoots, implicating the rhizoremediation by S. officinale. Accumulation factor (AF) and bioconcentration ratio (BCR) of Zn and Cd in shoots were lower and remained higher in case of roots than the standard level (≥1). BCR values of roots indicated that S. officinale can be used for rhizoremediation of TMs in smelter/mines-polluted soils. Thus, field trials in smelter/mines contaminated soils and the potential role of saponin and tannin exudation in metal translocation by plant will broaden our understanding about the mechanism of rhizoremediation of TMs by S. officinale.
Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance, 2019
Abstract Global mean air temperature is projected to rise by 1.4–5.8°C from 1990–2100, due to inc... more Abstract Global mean air temperature is projected to rise by 1.4–5.8°C from 1990–2100, due to increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Investigations predict that in 21st century the sea level may rise by 1 m or more, which would adversely affect one billion people by 2050. Coastal regions, being major irrigated rice-growing zones, are prone to be devastated by climate change, loss of wetlands, heightened storm damage, and increased salinity from saltwater intrusion. Scientists reported 23% improvement in rice-grain yield due to increasing CO2 from 365 to 627 mg kg−1; however, this increase is nullified by increasing mean air temperature. Both low and high temperature at high and low altitude respectively, reduce rice yield. Scientists found a 10% decrease in rice yield by per degree centigrade increase in minimum temperature. Similarly, decrease in rice yield was noticed in many parts of the world due to scarcity of good quality water, drought, salinity, land degradation, poor weed control, low input use, uneven patterns of rainfall, high disease occurrence, poor soil fertility, and some socioeconomic issues. Therefore, integrated management systems must be developed through eco-friendly agronomic practices, research, and modeling to overcome these hurdles for obtaining sustainable and profitable productivity of rice.
The use of polymer based composites in the treatment of skin tissue damages, has got huge attenti... more The use of polymer based composites in the treatment of skin tissue damages, has got huge attention in clinical demand, which enforced the scientists to improve the methods of biopolymer designing in order to obtain highly efficient system for complete restoration of damaged tissue. In last few decades, chitosan-based biomaterials have major applications in skin tissue engineering due to its biocompatible, hemostatic, antimicrobial and biodegradable capabilities. This article overviewed the promising biological properties of chitosan and further discussed the various preparation methods involved in chitosan-based biomaterials. In addition, this review also gave a comprehensive discussion of different forms of chitosan-based biomaterials including membrane, sponge, nanofiber and hydrogel that were extensively employed in skin tissue engineering. This review will help to form a base for the advanced applications of chitosan-based biomaterials in treatment of skin tissue damages.
Streptomyces pactum (Act12), an agent of a gentle in situ remediation approach, has been recently... more Streptomyces pactum (Act12), an agent of a gentle in situ remediation approach, has been recently used in few works in phytoextraction trials; however, the impact of Act12 on soil quality and metal phytoavailability has not been assessed in multi-metal contaminated soils. Consequently, here we assessed the potential impact of Act12 on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, antioxidants activity, and the metal bioavailability in three industrial and mining soils collected from China and contained up to 118, 141, 339, and 6625 mg Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn kg-1 soil, respectively. The Act12 was applied at 0 (control), 0.75 (Act-0.75), 1.50 (Act-1.5), and 2.25 (Act-2.25) g kg-1 (dry weight base) to the three soils; thereafter, the soils were cultivated with wheat (bio-indicator plant) in a pot experiment. The addition of Act12 (at Act-1.5 and Act-2.25) promoted wheat growth in the three soils and significantly increased the content of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the roots and shoots and Pb only in the roots (up to 121%). The Act12-induced increase in metals uptake by wheat might be attributed to the associated decrease in soil pH and/or the increase of metal chelation and production of indole acetic acid and siderophores. The Act12 significantly decreased the antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation in wheat, which indicates that Act12 may mitigate metals stress in contaminated soils. Enhancing metals phytoextraction using Act12 is a promising ecofriendly approach for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mining soils that can be safely utilized with non-edible plants and/or bioenergy crops.
Bacterial cellulose and modified montmorillonites nanocomposites were prepared through particle... more Bacterial cellulose and modified montmorillonites nanocomposites were prepared through particle impregnation method Synthesis of nanocomposites was confirmed by Fe-SEM, FTIR and XRD Nanocomposites showed antibacterial activity against various burn wound pathogens Nanocomposites enhanced burn wound healing and tissue regeneration in animal model ABSTRACT Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biopolymer with wound healing and tissue regenerative properties but lack of antimicrobial property limits its biomedical applications. Therefore,
Abstract To evaluate the allelopathic effects of major crops and weeds, studies were conducted du... more Abstract To evaluate the allelopathic effects of major crops and weeds, studies were conducted during 2011–12 and 2012–13 by utilizing water extracts of allelopathic plants namely rice ( Oryza sativa L.), Parthenium hysterophorus L., Phragmites australis Cav., and Datura alba L. with reduced rates of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA to control weeds. Application of Phragmites australis and Parthenium hysterophorus along with lower rates of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA showed promising results by controlling weeds and improving yield. Parthenium hysterophorus extract with half of the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA reduced weed density by 51 and 50% during year 1 and year 2, respectively, compared with the control. Phragmites australis extract with half of the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl produced grain yield (5.7 and 6.1 t ha −1 during year 1 and 2, respectively) in wheat. However, these results were also at par with Parthenium hysterophorus and Datura alba extracts in combinations with half the recommended doses of the above mentioned herbicides. The study of microbial activity showed higher amount of mineralizable carbon in D . alba with half the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl treated plots (0.073 g during both the years). The lowest amount of mineralizable carbon (0.035 and 0.030 g during year 1 and 2, respectively) was observed in the control plots. The presence of allelopathic plants in field crops and subsequent mixing in soil by tillage may create problems in crop production. Therefore, further studies are suggested to fully explore all the possible interactions among allelochemicals and herbicides.
An experiment was conducted to investigate phosphorus uptake and wheat yield as affected by rock ... more An experiment was conducted to investigate phosphorus uptake and wheat yield as affected by rock phosphate (RP) added with different organic fertilizers including Humic acid (HA), Farm yard manure (FYM) and Poultry manure (PM) applied at the rate of 3 kg, 20 tons and 10 tons ha-1 , respectively during rabi season 2009-2010. The fertilizers N, P and K were applied at the rate of 120, 90 and 60 kg ha-1 respectively. Sources for these fertilizers used on their analyses bases were urea and organic fertilizers for Nitrogen (N), Single Super Phosphate (SSP), RP and organic fertilizers for Phosphorus (P) and Sulphate of Potash (SOP) for Potash (K). Addition of RP mixed with different organic fertilizers significantly increased grains, total dry matter, straw yield and 1000 grains weight of wheat. Maximum grains yield (6000 kg ha-1), total dry matter yield (14933 kg ha-1) and thousand grains weight (41 g) of wheat was produced by the treatments of RP added to PM and HA followed by mixing RP...
Broomrape (Orobanche cernua L.) is an obligate root parasitic weed that significantly reduces the... more Broomrape (Orobanche cernua L.) is an obligate root parasitic weed that significantly reduces the qualitative and yield attributes of tomatoes globally. The efficient management of broomrape is challenging because of its complicated parasitic nature. Field trials were conducted to assess the influence of various irrigation scheduling and weed control strategies on broomrape, weed presence, and tomato productivity. The experiment was conducted with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and was replicated three times. Three irrigation intervals (3, 6, and 9 days) were assigned to the main block, while sub-blocks including treatments and year were taken as the source of variance (year × irrigation timing × treatments). The experiment comprised sixteen treatments, including transparent polythene, black polythene, weedy check (Control), sole weeding of broomrape only, weeding of all weeds, weeding except broomrape, humic acid 25 kg ha−1+ copper oxychlori...
In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) availability to plant is impaired due to the formation of ins... more In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) availability to plant is impaired due to the formation of insoluble complexes with calcium and magnesium. Therefore, this study was executed to compare the P use efficiency (PUE) of four different P sources [rock phosphate (RP), acidulated rock phosphate (ARP), single super phosphate (SSP) and di ammonium phosphate (DAP)] alone or pre-treated with organic amendments (farm yard manure (FYM) enriched compost, simple compost and humic acid (HA)) along with control in maize crop under calcareous soils. All treatments irrespective of P sources received 90 kg P2O5 ha−1. Phosphorus application regardless of its sources and combination with organic amendments significantly improved maize growth, yield as well as P uptake and PUE. Rock phosphate when applied alone was recorded inferior but its performance significantly improved with compost or its pre-addition with FYM and HA, that further enhanced upon acidulation. Maize grain yield increased by 21, 22.2,...
In calcareous soil, the significant portion of applied phosphorus (P) fertilizers is adsorbed on ... more In calcareous soil, the significant portion of applied phosphorus (P) fertilizers is adsorbed on the calcite surface and becomes unavailable to plants. Addition of organic amendments with chemical fertilizers can be helpful in releasing the absorbed nutrients from these surfaces. To check out this problem, a field experiment was conducted for two years to determine the effect of P fertilizers and humic acid (HA) in enhancing P availability in soil and their ultimate effect on growth, yield and P uptake of wheat in calcareous soils. The experiment was comprised of five levels of P (0, 45, 67.5, 90 and 112.5 kg P2O5 ha−1) as a single superphosphate (SSP) and 2 levels of locally produced humic acid (with and without HA) arranged in a two factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Wheat plant height, spike length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain, straw and biological yield were significantly improved by the addition of HA with SSP. Ve...
Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rock phosphate (RP) and farmyard m... more Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of rock phosphate (RP) and farmyard manure (FYM) applied with and without effective microorganisms (EM) on the yields and plant P uptake of wheat and their residual effect on subsequent sunflower crop during Rabi 2008-09 and Kharif season 2009. The experiments were laid out according to the Split-Plot Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications with a plot size of 5m x 11m. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the effect of EM in main-plot was significant (p≤0.05) on 1000-grain weight, grain yield and total dry matter yield of wheat. The sub-plot, where various combinations of RP and FYM were applied also indicated significant (p≤0.05) effects on these parameters. Significant (p≤0.05) interaction between EM applied with RP and FYM was recorded for plant height, 1000-grain weight and grain yield, while non-significant for total dry matter yield of wheat. Plants N and P uptakes and post harvest soil ext...
Soil contains variety of the microscopic organism (bacteria, virus and fungi) and chemical compou... more Soil contains variety of the microscopic organism (bacteria, virus and fungi) and chemical compounds(organic and inorganic). This research work focus to calculate the physical and chemical parameter of theagriculture soil of selected land of Rawalpindi with addition to prokaryotes. Different methods were followed toassess the physiochemical characteristics. Further isolated bacteria were identified by gram staining,microscopy and different biochemical tests. Findings of this research revealed that the pH was neutral whichindicate the low availability of the nutrients for plants, apart from this all other physiochemical properties werein lower limits. Besides this fluorine ion were in range allotted by the WHO, but fluorine in the 0-21cm wasmore abundant than deeper layer (22-41). In targeted areas the site one has the higher concentration of thefluorine ion as compared to all other sites. In bacterial fauna Gram + bacteria were dominant in whichpredominant species was Arthrobacter. ...
Biochar prepared from various feedstock materials has been utilized in recent years as a potentia... more Biochar prepared from various feedstock materials has been utilized in recent years as a potential stabilizing agent for heavy metals in smelter-contaminated soils. However, the effectiveness of animal bone-derived biochar and its potential for the stabilization of contaminants remains unclear. In the present study, sheep bone-derived biochar (SB) was prepared at low (500 °C; SBL) and high temperatures (800 °C; SBH) and amended a smelter-contaminated soil at 2, 5, and 10% (w/w). The effects of SB on soil properties, bioavailable Zn and Cd and their geochemical fractions, bacterial community composition and activity, and the response of plant attributes (pigments and antioxidant activity) were assessed. Results showed that the SBH added at 10% (SBH10) increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, and also increased the oxidizable and residual Zn and Cd fractions at the expense of the bioavailable fractions. The SBH10 lowered the Zn and Cd contents in maize roots (by 57 and 60%) and shoot (by 42 and 61%), respectively, compared to unamended control. Additionally, SBH10 enhanced urease (98%) and phosphates (107%) activities, but reduced dehydrogenase (58%) and β-glucosidase (30%) activities. Regarding the effect of the pyrolysis temperature, SBH enhanced the activity of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, Verrucomicrobia, Chlorobi, and Microgenomates, but reduced Actinobacteria and Parcubacteria in comparison to SBL. However, only the SBL10 reduced the Proteobacteria community (by 9%). In conclusion, SB immobilized Zn and Cd in smelter-affected soils, enhanced the bacterial abundance and microbial function (urease, phosphates), and improved plant growth. However, validation of the results, obtained from the pot experiment, under field conditions is suggested.
Soil microbes influence the uptake of toxic metals (TMs) by changing soil characteristics, bioava... more Soil microbes influence the uptake of toxic metals (TMs) by changing soil characteristics, bioavailability and translocation of TMs, and soil health indicators in polluted environment. The potential effect of Streptomyces pactum (Act12) and Bacillus consortium (B. subtilis and B. licheniformis; 1:1) on soil enzymes and bacterial abundance, bioavailability and translocation of Zn and Cd by Symphytum officinale, and physiological indicators in soil acquired from Fengxian (FX) mining site. Act12 and Bacillus consortium were applied at 0 (CK), 0.50 (T1), 1.50 (T2), and 2.50 (T3) g kg-1 in a split plot design and three times harvested (H). Results showed that soil pH significantly dropped, whereas, electrical conductivity increased at higher Act12 and Bacillus doses. The extractable Zn lowered and Cd increased at each harvest compared to their controls. Soil β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and sucrase improved, whereas, dehydrogenase reduced in harvest 2 and 3 (H2 and H3) as compared to harvest 1 (H1) after Act12 and Bacillus treatments. The main soil phyla individually contributed ∼5-55.6%. Soil bacterial communities' distribution was also altered by Act12 and Bacillus amendments. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes increased, whereas, the Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes decreased during the one-year trial. The Zn and Cd concentration significantly decreased in shoots at each harvest, whereas, the roots concentration was far higher than the shoots, implicating the rhizoremediation by S. officinale. Accumulation factor (AF) and bioconcentration ratio (BCR) of Zn and Cd in shoots were lower and remained higher in case of roots than the standard level (≥1). BCR values of roots indicated that S. officinale can be used for rhizoremediation of TMs in smelter/mines-polluted soils. Thus, field trials in smelter/mines contaminated soils and the potential role of saponin and tannin exudation in metal translocation by plant will broaden our understanding about the mechanism of rhizoremediation of TMs by S. officinale.
Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance, 2019
Abstract Global mean air temperature is projected to rise by 1.4–5.8°C from 1990–2100, due to inc... more Abstract Global mean air temperature is projected to rise by 1.4–5.8°C from 1990–2100, due to increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Investigations predict that in 21st century the sea level may rise by 1 m or more, which would adversely affect one billion people by 2050. Coastal regions, being major irrigated rice-growing zones, are prone to be devastated by climate change, loss of wetlands, heightened storm damage, and increased salinity from saltwater intrusion. Scientists reported 23% improvement in rice-grain yield due to increasing CO2 from 365 to 627 mg kg−1; however, this increase is nullified by increasing mean air temperature. Both low and high temperature at high and low altitude respectively, reduce rice yield. Scientists found a 10% decrease in rice yield by per degree centigrade increase in minimum temperature. Similarly, decrease in rice yield was noticed in many parts of the world due to scarcity of good quality water, drought, salinity, land degradation, poor weed control, low input use, uneven patterns of rainfall, high disease occurrence, poor soil fertility, and some socioeconomic issues. Therefore, integrated management systems must be developed through eco-friendly agronomic practices, research, and modeling to overcome these hurdles for obtaining sustainable and profitable productivity of rice.
The use of polymer based composites in the treatment of skin tissue damages, has got huge attenti... more The use of polymer based composites in the treatment of skin tissue damages, has got huge attention in clinical demand, which enforced the scientists to improve the methods of biopolymer designing in order to obtain highly efficient system for complete restoration of damaged tissue. In last few decades, chitosan-based biomaterials have major applications in skin tissue engineering due to its biocompatible, hemostatic, antimicrobial and biodegradable capabilities. This article overviewed the promising biological properties of chitosan and further discussed the various preparation methods involved in chitosan-based biomaterials. In addition, this review also gave a comprehensive discussion of different forms of chitosan-based biomaterials including membrane, sponge, nanofiber and hydrogel that were extensively employed in skin tissue engineering. This review will help to form a base for the advanced applications of chitosan-based biomaterials in treatment of skin tissue damages.
Streptomyces pactum (Act12), an agent of a gentle in situ remediation approach, has been recently... more Streptomyces pactum (Act12), an agent of a gentle in situ remediation approach, has been recently used in few works in phytoextraction trials; however, the impact of Act12 on soil quality and metal phytoavailability has not been assessed in multi-metal contaminated soils. Consequently, here we assessed the potential impact of Act12 on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, antioxidants activity, and the metal bioavailability in three industrial and mining soils collected from China and contained up to 118, 141, 339, and 6625 mg Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn kg-1 soil, respectively. The Act12 was applied at 0 (control), 0.75 (Act-0.75), 1.50 (Act-1.5), and 2.25 (Act-2.25) g kg-1 (dry weight base) to the three soils; thereafter, the soils were cultivated with wheat (bio-indicator plant) in a pot experiment. The addition of Act12 (at Act-1.5 and Act-2.25) promoted wheat growth in the three soils and significantly increased the content of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the roots and shoots and Pb only in the roots (up to 121%). The Act12-induced increase in metals uptake by wheat might be attributed to the associated decrease in soil pH and/or the increase of metal chelation and production of indole acetic acid and siderophores. The Act12 significantly decreased the antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation in wheat, which indicates that Act12 may mitigate metals stress in contaminated soils. Enhancing metals phytoextraction using Act12 is a promising ecofriendly approach for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mining soils that can be safely utilized with non-edible plants and/or bioenergy crops.
Bacterial cellulose and modified montmorillonites nanocomposites were prepared through particle... more Bacterial cellulose and modified montmorillonites nanocomposites were prepared through particle impregnation method Synthesis of nanocomposites was confirmed by Fe-SEM, FTIR and XRD Nanocomposites showed antibacterial activity against various burn wound pathogens Nanocomposites enhanced burn wound healing and tissue regeneration in animal model ABSTRACT Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biopolymer with wound healing and tissue regenerative properties but lack of antimicrobial property limits its biomedical applications. Therefore,
Abstract To evaluate the allelopathic effects of major crops and weeds, studies were conducted du... more Abstract To evaluate the allelopathic effects of major crops and weeds, studies were conducted during 2011–12 and 2012–13 by utilizing water extracts of allelopathic plants namely rice ( Oryza sativa L.), Parthenium hysterophorus L., Phragmites australis Cav., and Datura alba L. with reduced rates of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA to control weeds. Application of Phragmites australis and Parthenium hysterophorus along with lower rates of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA showed promising results by controlling weeds and improving yield. Parthenium hysterophorus extract with half of the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl and bromoxynil plus MCPA reduced weed density by 51 and 50% during year 1 and year 2, respectively, compared with the control. Phragmites australis extract with half of the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl produced grain yield (5.7 and 6.1 t ha −1 during year 1 and 2, respectively) in wheat. However, these results were also at par with Parthenium hysterophorus and Datura alba extracts in combinations with half the recommended doses of the above mentioned herbicides. The study of microbial activity showed higher amount of mineralizable carbon in D . alba with half the recommended dose of fenoxaprop- p -ethyl treated plots (0.073 g during both the years). The lowest amount of mineralizable carbon (0.035 and 0.030 g during year 1 and 2, respectively) was observed in the control plots. The presence of allelopathic plants in field crops and subsequent mixing in soil by tillage may create problems in crop production. Therefore, further studies are suggested to fully explore all the possible interactions among allelochemicals and herbicides.
An experiment was conducted to investigate phosphorus uptake and wheat yield as affected by rock ... more An experiment was conducted to investigate phosphorus uptake and wheat yield as affected by rock phosphate (RP) added with different organic fertilizers including Humic acid (HA), Farm yard manure (FYM) and Poultry manure (PM) applied at the rate of 3 kg, 20 tons and 10 tons ha-1 , respectively during rabi season 2009-2010. The fertilizers N, P and K were applied at the rate of 120, 90 and 60 kg ha-1 respectively. Sources for these fertilizers used on their analyses bases were urea and organic fertilizers for Nitrogen (N), Single Super Phosphate (SSP), RP and organic fertilizers for Phosphorus (P) and Sulphate of Potash (SOP) for Potash (K). Addition of RP mixed with different organic fertilizers significantly increased grains, total dry matter, straw yield and 1000 grains weight of wheat. Maximum grains yield (6000 kg ha-1), total dry matter yield (14933 kg ha-1) and thousand grains weight (41 g) of wheat was produced by the treatments of RP added to PM and HA followed by mixing RP...
Broomrape (Orobanche cernua L.) is an obligate root parasitic weed that significantly reduces the... more Broomrape (Orobanche cernua L.) is an obligate root parasitic weed that significantly reduces the qualitative and yield attributes of tomatoes globally. The efficient management of broomrape is challenging because of its complicated parasitic nature. Field trials were conducted to assess the influence of various irrigation scheduling and weed control strategies on broomrape, weed presence, and tomato productivity. The experiment was conducted with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and was replicated three times. Three irrigation intervals (3, 6, and 9 days) were assigned to the main block, while sub-blocks including treatments and year were taken as the source of variance (year × irrigation timing × treatments). The experiment comprised sixteen treatments, including transparent polythene, black polythene, weedy check (Control), sole weeding of broomrape only, weeding of all weeds, weeding except broomrape, humic acid 25 kg ha−1+ copper oxychlori...
In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) availability to plant is impaired due to the formation of ins... more In calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) availability to plant is impaired due to the formation of insoluble complexes with calcium and magnesium. Therefore, this study was executed to compare the P use efficiency (PUE) of four different P sources [rock phosphate (RP), acidulated rock phosphate (ARP), single super phosphate (SSP) and di ammonium phosphate (DAP)] alone or pre-treated with organic amendments (farm yard manure (FYM) enriched compost, simple compost and humic acid (HA)) along with control in maize crop under calcareous soils. All treatments irrespective of P sources received 90 kg P2O5 ha−1. Phosphorus application regardless of its sources and combination with organic amendments significantly improved maize growth, yield as well as P uptake and PUE. Rock phosphate when applied alone was recorded inferior but its performance significantly improved with compost or its pre-addition with FYM and HA, that further enhanced upon acidulation. Maize grain yield increased by 21, 22.2,...
In calcareous soil, the significant portion of applied phosphorus (P) fertilizers is adsorbed on ... more In calcareous soil, the significant portion of applied phosphorus (P) fertilizers is adsorbed on the calcite surface and becomes unavailable to plants. Addition of organic amendments with chemical fertilizers can be helpful in releasing the absorbed nutrients from these surfaces. To check out this problem, a field experiment was conducted for two years to determine the effect of P fertilizers and humic acid (HA) in enhancing P availability in soil and their ultimate effect on growth, yield and P uptake of wheat in calcareous soils. The experiment was comprised of five levels of P (0, 45, 67.5, 90 and 112.5 kg P2O5 ha−1) as a single superphosphate (SSP) and 2 levels of locally produced humic acid (with and without HA) arranged in a two factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Wheat plant height, spike length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain, straw and biological yield were significantly improved by the addition of HA with SSP. Ve...
Uploads
Papers by Fazli Wahid