Journal of ICT, Design, Engineering and Technological Science, 2021
Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. ... more Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. Testing of ill soil is carried out to ind whether the existing soil can endure the burden of structure withheld upon it or not. In the case of weak soil, one can ind it dif icult to pursue construction or any development project. While talking of solutions, there are many methods to improve its strength and properties: one of them which we decided to work on is 'stabilization of ill soil using bricks waste which is normally easily available material. The main objective of our test is to check the effectiveness of bricks waste on the mechanical properties of illing material. The testing comprised of performing Atterberg limits, Uncon ined Compression, Direct Shear, Sieve Analysis, Moisture Dry Density, and Permeability. The Bricks waste passing no. 40 sieve is mixed with ill soil and testing on different proportions i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent was carried out. The summary was prepared showed improvement in soil regarding the shear strength and toughness as the Plasticity Index of the soil was improved. The uncon ined compression test results show a pattern in which the peak stress is increased as we move to higher percentages. Also, the moisture content is increased for this test because the brick debris absorbed water. Direct shear test on percentages up to 15% showed that the peak shear stress increased, which indicates that on higher percentages the sample took more load as compared to small percentages. Moisture Dry Density relationship provides a clear indication of an increase in density of soil as moved to higher percentages and decrease in Optimum Moisture Content which suggests that, clay absorbs more water content as compared to brick debris.
This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the ... more This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the impact of forest resources on the insects, fauna and socioeconomic conditions of local people. Total 75 out of 300 households were selected for the study. The main forest resources identified were grasses (38%), trees (29%), Shrubs (20%) and herbs (13%). Major wild life species were as; i. animals (Canis aureus, Felis chaus, and Macaca mulatta) ii. The major insect fauna were (Apis cerana, Bombus terrestris and Papilio bianor) respectively. Honey production was calculated @ 5kg/year having value of Rs. 9000. The forest provides digestible nutrients and crude protein to different number of livestock. It was concluded that forest fauna especially insects significantly contributing to the economic condition of local community. Medicinal plants provide hosting to insects while insects play role in pollination. Therefore the presence of forest resources must be preserved for the survival of i...
The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climat... more The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climate change, due to the rapidly increasing population and delicate mountainous ecosystem. The relatively limited observed instrumental record impedes our understanding of long-term climate variability and their assessment. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, a 395-year (1620 to 2014 C.E.) tree-ring chronology of Abies pindrow (Royle) (Himalayan fir) was developed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The results of the growth-climate relationship demonstrated that the radial growth of Abies pindrow was limited by minimum temperature. Using a robust reconstruction model, a 310-year (1705 to 2014 C.E.) minimum temperature was reconstructed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The reconstructed minimum temperature accounts for 38% variance of the actual minimum temperature, and provides the evidences of Dalton minimum and modern maximum periods. The coldest years in the reconstruction were 1726, 1727, 1892, 1921, and 2001, whereas the hottest years were 1789, 1807, 1814, 1846, 2011, and 2013. Multi-taper method (MTM) spectral analysis showed a significant shorter quasi-cycles (2.3 to 3.5 years) and decadal cycles (11.5 to 17.5 years), suggesting a possible teleconnections with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) respectively.
The aim of the present study was to find out the comparative effects of dominant forest tree spec... more The aim of the present study was to find out the comparative effects of dominant forest tree species and their role in improving, enhancing the soil profile with perceiving the Vespid fauna in the visited area (District Buner). For this purpose, seven samples were collected through composite method and then mixed with resulting one sample. Two way factor ANOVA were used to analyse the soil pH, K, EC, P, SOC. The results showed that forest tree species cover the different effects on soil characteristics. The pH value were noted highest (7.174) at depth of 0-15 cm whereas lowest (6.618) at depth of 16-30 cm in mixed forest, the Bulk Density were recorded 1.8768 g/cm3 at 31-45 cm whereas lowest 1.085 g/cm3 at 0-15 cm depth. The soil organic matter were found highest (1.008%) in Chir pine forest at depth of 0-15 cm whereas lowest (0.66%) at 31-45 cm in the same forest. Soil phosphorus were found to be maximum (8.76%), at middle 16-30 cm and lowest (6.52%) at the top soil 0-15 cm, Potass...
The aim of this study was to investigate about soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratio in Mongoli... more The aim of this study was to investigate about soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratio in Mongolian scots pine plantation forests. Our results showed that along 5 depth increments (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, and 80-100 cm), the concentration and storage of total soil organic carbon (TSOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) decrease. A significantly higher TSOC, TN, and TP concentration and storage was recorded at 0-20 cm, indicating that more C, N, and P were found in the upper soil profile. Similarly, the C:N and C: P stoichiometry and soil TSOC concentrations were significantly higher than soil N:P and TN and TP concentrations, indicating that coniferous plantation forests store more C compared to N and P. TSOC, TN, and TP (p<0.01) concentrations and storage were positively correlated at depth of 0-20 and 20-40 cm, showing a relatively constrained C:N:P ratio in this plantation forest. Furthermore, stand density, basal area, and total biomass carbon affected TSOC,...
The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park... more The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park, District Mansehra, Pakistan. Study was conducted during May to October, 2011. Questionnaire was developed for data collection based on socioeconomic and biological conditions. In socio-economic conditions gender, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income of the local people was discussed while in the second section biological condition include the flora and fauna of the parks and adjacent area. A total of 37 people interviewed, all of them were male in which 2 were >18 which makes 5.405%, 18 were 18-30 (48.64%), 10 were 31-40 (27.02%), 2 were 41-50 (5.405%), 5 were above 50 years (13.51%). 31 were married (86.48%), 5 were unmarried (13.51%), out of these 6 were literate having metric qualification (16.26%), while other were Illiterate 31 (83.78 %). 48.64% of the people occupation was rearing the cattle’s, 45.95% depend on agriculture. Monthly income was categorized into...
A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khy... more A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to quantify environmental footprint, water footprint, cumulative energy use, and to identify improvement opportunities in the matchsticks manufacturing process. One carton of matchsticks was used as reference unit for this study. Foreground data was collected from the matchsticks industry through questionnaire surveys, personal meetings, and field measurements. The collected data was transformed into potential environmental impacts through the Centre for Environment Studies (CML) 2000 v.2.05 method present by default in the SimaPro v.9.1 software. Water footprint was calculated using methodology developed by Hoekstra et al., 2012 (water scarcity index) V1.02 and cumulative energy demand by SimaPro v.9.1 software. The results showed that transport of primary material (wood logs), sawn wood for matchsticks, red phosphorous, acrylic varnish, and kerosene...
Cellulose acetate (CA), and CA blended with Nicotiana tabacum ash (ACA) membranes have synthesize... more Cellulose acetate (CA), and CA blended with Nicotiana tabacum ash (ACA) membranes have synthesized and fabricated with zero-valent Fe NPs (ZVI) and named as CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0. The as-synthesized membranes were inspected for the removal and detoxification of toxic organic pollutants. Comparative studies of CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0 NPs were investigated for five model pollutants, such as 4-nitrophenol (4NP), methyl orange (MO), Congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB), and bromocresol green (BCG). The kinetic model indicated that the apparent rate constant K app value of ACA@Fe 0 was highest for all model pollutants compared to CA@Fe 0 NPs. The K app value is derived from pseudo-first-order kinetics. The K app value of MO discoloration was 8.17 × 10 −1 min −1 with ACA@Fe 0 which is highest than CA@Fe 0 (3.08 × 10 −1 min −1). The turnover frequency (TOF) was highest for ACA@Fe 0 for all the pollutants compared to CA@Fe 0 and the highest TOF value was found for CR dye with ACA@Fe 0 which is 0.523 h −1. Both the membranes also showed promising antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi. Furthermore, CA, ACA membrane and CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0 NPs were characterized through FESEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR and TGA analysis.
Human-wolf conflict is a major factor contributing to the decline of grey wolf population both lo... more Human-wolf conflict is a major factor contributing to the decline of grey wolf population both locally and globally. This study was carried out in December 2016 to determine the status and nature of human-wolf conflict in the study area. A total 80 locals from all walks of life were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. The grey wolf was declared as a common species by 50% of the locals with an annual sighting rate of 0.3 each. During the year, a total of 256 livestock were lost to grey wolf predation and disease. Of the total, grey wolf was held responsible for a total 71 livestock losses. Goat was the most vulnerable domestic prey as it accounted for 60.5% of the total reported depredations. Out of the total economic loss (USD 27562, USD 344.525/household), grey wolf was accountable for USD 6244 (USD 78.05/household), while disease contributed USD 21318 (USD 266/household). High depredation was observed during the summer season (54%) followed by spring and autumn. The unattended livestock grazing in forest were more prone to grey wolf attack. Most of the respondents (71%) displayed a negative attitude towards grey wolf. Reported human-wolf conflict in the area can be reduced by initiating wildlife importance related awareness programs, livestock vaccination and depredation compensation schemes. Active herding technique is also recommended to reduce chances of wolf attacks on livestock.
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
The regeneration of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) is a core issue for restoration ... more The regeneration of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) is a core issue for restoration from secondary to primary forests. There is a lack of Korean pine regeneration in primary forests, compared to an abundance of regeneration in secondary forests. However, the mechanisms behind this mysterious phenomenon have not been studied. This study investigated seasonal understory light availability in addition to carbon (C) gain of understory Korean pine, nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) storage of Korean pine in secondary forests, and the growth and survival of seedlings under manipulated light regimes. Understory light intensities in early spring and late autumn in secondary forests were significantly higher than in primary forests. The C gain of understory Korean pine occurred mostly in early spring and late autumn, whereas it was negative in the growing season (summer). Total NSC concentrations of Korean pine saplings increased between growing seasons, and decreased during the growing season. In particular, the NSC was dominated by a progressive increase in starch in early spring and by a peak in soluble sugar in late autumn. In this study, the biomass, NSC concentration and pool sizes, as well as survival rates, were positively correlated with light availability, revealing that the species is shade intolerant. The accumulated survival rate, examined in the autumn, was less correlated with biomass, but positively correlated with the carbohydrate storage in autumn. High light availability and positive C gain in early spring and late autumn are key factors affecting the growth and survival of understory seedlings. These two periods in secondary forests are crucial for the survival of seedlings by ensuring sufficient energy to live through the long-lasting dark summer. In primary forests, however, light availability was relatively stable across all seasons, especially in the leafless period, and insufficient through-canopy radiation, along with dense lateral closure, caused seedlings mortality.
Climate change has become a global concern for scientists as it is affecting almost every ecosyst... more Climate change has become a global concern for scientists as it is affecting almost every ecosystem. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla are native and dominant forest species in the Daxing’anling Mountains of Inner Mongolia, playing a major role in carbon sequestration of this region. This study was carried out to assess the effect of climate variables including precipitation and temperature on the biomass of Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla forests. For this purpose, we used the climate-sensitive stem biomass allometric model for both species separately to find out accurate stem biomass along with climatic factors from 1950 to 2016. A total of 66 random plots were taken to attain the data from this study area. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla stem biomass have a strong correlation with annual precipitation (R2 = 0.86, R2 = 0.71, R2 = 0.79, and R2 = 0.59) and maximum temperature (R2 = 0.76, R2 = 0.64, R2 = 0.67, and R2 = 0.52). However, annual minimum temperature (R2 = ...
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution patter... more Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution pattern, growing stock characteristics and carbon mitigation potential of different forests of the Hindukush region in Kumrat valley, of northern Pakistan. The results showed that forestland covered an area of 51.13% of the valley. Stem density varied between 243±55 to 585±221 ha-1. Tree height was found in the range of 3 m and 49.85 m among the different forests. The regression analysis between stem density and diameter showed a week correlation in Cedrus deodara (CD) and Abies pindrow forest (AP), but showed positive correlation in Pinus wallichiana (PW), mixed coniferous (MC), and open forest (OF). Tree basal area and stem volume ranged from 343.45±210.68 to 159.64±58.41 m 2 ha-1 and 343.45±210.68 to 2160.4±974.91 m 3 ha-1 respectively. The range of calculated tree biomass was between 244.06±153.25 and 1499.5±627.74 Mg C ha-1. The carbon values varied between 122.03±76.62 and 749.69±313.85 Mg C ha-1. The results showed that among the different forests, CD had the highest carbon mitigation potential and OF had the lowest carbon mitigation potential. Furthermore, our results showed that the values of stem volume, total tree biomass and carbon in each forest were highly correlated with the basal area. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that basal area is the best predictor of biomass carbon estimation in each forest that suggests the use of the basal area for biomass carbon estimation. This approach could considerably reduce both, financial and physical efforts in carbon inventory regarding the field data collection particularly over the extensive tract of underrepresented carbon forests in Pakistan.
In forest ecosystems, soil organic matter facilitates carbon sequestration and serves as a sink f... more In forest ecosystems, soil organic matter facilitates carbon sequestration and serves as a sink for atmospheric CO2. Carbon in forest soils plays an important role in mitigating global climate change. Soil carbon density was measured at three depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) in four different elevation classes sites at the forest exterior and forest interior in the subtropical forests of southeastern China. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) varied between 46.48 and 83.12 Mg ha-1 at forest exterior and 50.18 and 90.68 Mg ha-1 at forest interior in different elevation classes. A significant increasing trend in soil organic carbon was found with an increase in elevation at both forest exterior and forest interior. Similarly, a positive correlation between soil organic carbon and elevation was observed at forest exterior (R 2 = 0.87, P = 0.0001) and forest interior (R 2 = 0.93, P = 0.0001). The percentages of soil carbon at 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm depths at forest exterior and forest interior were 47.24-52.76, 47.23-52.77, and 46.95-53.05% respectively. Soil bulk density was directly related to soil depth and inversely related to elevation at forest exterior and forest interior. Overall the mean SOC at forest exterior and forest interior was 60.83 Mg ha-1 and 68.20 Mg ha-1 respectively. The study showed that there is a 5.7% difference in soil carbon density between forest exterior and forest interior which highlights the fact that ignoring edge effects may lead to overestimation of soil carbon density. Therefore, we suggest the establishment of permanent sample plots sites at the forest exterior and forest interior and recommend regular periodic surveys of soil for accurate forest soil carbon measurement.
The spectroscopic analysis of high protein nigella seeds (also called Kalonji) was performed usin... more The spectroscopic analysis of high protein nigella seeds (also called Kalonji) was performed using pulsed nanosecond laserinduced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) at 532 nm. The emission spectrum of Kalonji recorded with an LIBS spectrometer exposed the presence of various elements like Al,
Abstract Located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, subtropical and moist temperate for... more Abstract Located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, subtropical and moist temperate forests of Pakistan are very rich in flora and fauna. However, due to increased illegal and uncontrolled harvesting of wood, agricultural activities, and urbanization, these forests are fast disappearing. The recent expansion of human activities resulting illegal and uncontrolled harvesting, agricultural activities, and urbanization is a cause for concern. Using Landsat imagery, Markov Chain and Cellular Automata, this study focused on the quantitative assessment of spatiotemporal land use and land cover changes during 1998, 2008, 2018 and a simulation of 2028. In addition, a forest inventory survey of biomass and carbon sink were respectively calculated for these subtropical broad-leaved evergreen, subtropical chirpine and moist temperate forests. Results showed biomass was 560.56 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1, 350.95 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1 and 153.63 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1 in moist temperate, subtropical chirpine and subtropical broad-leaved forests respectively. Meanwhile, carbon was 313.94 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1, 221.34 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1 and 131.77 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1 in moist temperate, subtropical chirpine and subtropical broad-leaved forests respectively. During the study period, land-use and land cover changes showed forest land changed from 40936.77 ha to 36709.23 ha, agricultural land from 4220.46 to 10374.64 ha, and built-up area from 1497.60 to 5395.12 ha. The average annual biomass and carbon loss were respectively 50.34 Gg ha−1yr−1 and 31.33 Gg C ha−1 yr−1. The information derived from this study could assist in the development of appropriate sustainable forest management policies in Pakistan.
Subtropical forest productivity is significantly affected by both natural disturbances (local and... more Subtropical forest productivity is significantly affected by both natural disturbances (local and regional climate changes) and anthropogenic activities (harvesting and planting). Monthly measures of forest aboveground productivity from natural forests (primary and secondary forests) and plantations (mixed and single-species forests) were developed to explore the sensitivity of subtropical mountain productivity to the fluctuating characteristics of climate change in South China, spanning the 35-year period from 1981 to 2015. Statistical analysis showed that climate regulation differed across different forest types. The monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were positively correlated with primary and mixed-forest aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its components: Wood productivity (WP) and canopy productivity (CP). However, the monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were negatively correlated with secondary and sin...
Bacterial cellulose (BC), owing to its pure nature and impressive physicochemical properties, inc... more Bacterial cellulose (BC), owing to its pure nature and impressive physicochemical properties, including high mechanical strength, crystallinity, porous fibrous structure, and liquid absorbing capabilities, has emerged as an advanced biomaterial. To match the market demand and economic values, BC has been produced through a number of synthetic routes, leading to slightly different structural features and physical appearance. Chemical nature, porous geometry, and 3D fibrous structure of BC make it an ideal material for composites synthesis that successfully overcome certain deficiencies of pure BC. In this review, we have focused various strategies developed for synthesizing BC and BC composites. Reinforcement materials including nanoparticles and polymers have enhanced the antimicrobial, conducting, magnetic, biocompatible, and mechanical properties of BC. Both pure BC and its composites have shown impressive applications in medical fields and in the development of optoelectronic dev...
Journal of ICT, Design, Engineering and Technological Science, 2021
Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. ... more Testing soil and knowing its strength parameters is one of the basic components in construction. Testing of ill soil is carried out to ind whether the existing soil can endure the burden of structure withheld upon it or not. In the case of weak soil, one can ind it dif icult to pursue construction or any development project. While talking of solutions, there are many methods to improve its strength and properties: one of them which we decided to work on is 'stabilization of ill soil using bricks waste which is normally easily available material. The main objective of our test is to check the effectiveness of bricks waste on the mechanical properties of illing material. The testing comprised of performing Atterberg limits, Uncon ined Compression, Direct Shear, Sieve Analysis, Moisture Dry Density, and Permeability. The Bricks waste passing no. 40 sieve is mixed with ill soil and testing on different proportions i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent was carried out. The summary was prepared showed improvement in soil regarding the shear strength and toughness as the Plasticity Index of the soil was improved. The uncon ined compression test results show a pattern in which the peak stress is increased as we move to higher percentages. Also, the moisture content is increased for this test because the brick debris absorbed water. Direct shear test on percentages up to 15% showed that the peak shear stress increased, which indicates that on higher percentages the sample took more load as compared to small percentages. Moisture Dry Density relationship provides a clear indication of an increase in density of soil as moved to higher percentages and decrease in Optimum Moisture Content which suggests that, clay absorbs more water content as compared to brick debris.
This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the ... more This study was carried out in the Karaker Barikot forest of district Swat Pakistan to assess the impact of forest resources on the insects, fauna and socioeconomic conditions of local people. Total 75 out of 300 households were selected for the study. The main forest resources identified were grasses (38%), trees (29%), Shrubs (20%) and herbs (13%). Major wild life species were as; i. animals (Canis aureus, Felis chaus, and Macaca mulatta) ii. The major insect fauna were (Apis cerana, Bombus terrestris and Papilio bianor) respectively. Honey production was calculated @ 5kg/year having value of Rs. 9000. The forest provides digestible nutrients and crude protein to different number of livestock. It was concluded that forest fauna especially insects significantly contributing to the economic condition of local community. Medicinal plants provide hosting to insects while insects play role in pollination. Therefore the presence of forest resources must be preserved for the survival of i...
The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climat... more The western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan is one of the most sensitive hotspots to climate change, due to the rapidly increasing population and delicate mountainous ecosystem. The relatively limited observed instrumental record impedes our understanding of long-term climate variability and their assessment. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, a 395-year (1620 to 2014 C.E.) tree-ring chronology of Abies pindrow (Royle) (Himalayan fir) was developed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The results of the growth-climate relationship demonstrated that the radial growth of Abies pindrow was limited by minimum temperature. Using a robust reconstruction model, a 310-year (1705 to 2014 C.E.) minimum temperature was reconstructed from the western Himalayan region in northern Pakistan. The reconstructed minimum temperature accounts for 38% variance of the actual minimum temperature, and provides the evidences of Dalton minimum and modern maximum periods. The coldest years in the reconstruction were 1726, 1727, 1892, 1921, and 2001, whereas the hottest years were 1789, 1807, 1814, 1846, 2011, and 2013. Multi-taper method (MTM) spectral analysis showed a significant shorter quasi-cycles (2.3 to 3.5 years) and decadal cycles (11.5 to 17.5 years), suggesting a possible teleconnections with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) respectively.
The aim of the present study was to find out the comparative effects of dominant forest tree spec... more The aim of the present study was to find out the comparative effects of dominant forest tree species and their role in improving, enhancing the soil profile with perceiving the Vespid fauna in the visited area (District Buner). For this purpose, seven samples were collected through composite method and then mixed with resulting one sample. Two way factor ANOVA were used to analyse the soil pH, K, EC, P, SOC. The results showed that forest tree species cover the different effects on soil characteristics. The pH value were noted highest (7.174) at depth of 0-15 cm whereas lowest (6.618) at depth of 16-30 cm in mixed forest, the Bulk Density were recorded 1.8768 g/cm3 at 31-45 cm whereas lowest 1.085 g/cm3 at 0-15 cm depth. The soil organic matter were found highest (1.008%) in Chir pine forest at depth of 0-15 cm whereas lowest (0.66%) at 31-45 cm in the same forest. Soil phosphorus were found to be maximum (8.76%), at middle 16-30 cm and lowest (6.52%) at the top soil 0-15 cm, Potass...
The aim of this study was to investigate about soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratio in Mongoli... more The aim of this study was to investigate about soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratio in Mongolian scots pine plantation forests. Our results showed that along 5 depth increments (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, and 80-100 cm), the concentration and storage of total soil organic carbon (TSOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) decrease. A significantly higher TSOC, TN, and TP concentration and storage was recorded at 0-20 cm, indicating that more C, N, and P were found in the upper soil profile. Similarly, the C:N and C: P stoichiometry and soil TSOC concentrations were significantly higher than soil N:P and TN and TP concentrations, indicating that coniferous plantation forests store more C compared to N and P. TSOC, TN, and TP (p<0.01) concentrations and storage were positively correlated at depth of 0-20 and 20-40 cm, showing a relatively constrained C:N:P ratio in this plantation forest. Furthermore, stand density, basal area, and total biomass carbon affected TSOC,...
The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park... more The present study reveals socio-economic and biological condition of Saif-ul-Malook National Park, District Mansehra, Pakistan. Study was conducted during May to October, 2011. Questionnaire was developed for data collection based on socioeconomic and biological conditions. In socio-economic conditions gender, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income of the local people was discussed while in the second section biological condition include the flora and fauna of the parks and adjacent area. A total of 37 people interviewed, all of them were male in which 2 were >18 which makes 5.405%, 18 were 18-30 (48.64%), 10 were 31-40 (27.02%), 2 were 41-50 (5.405%), 5 were above 50 years (13.51%). 31 were married (86.48%), 5 were unmarried (13.51%), out of these 6 were literate having metric qualification (16.26%), while other were Illiterate 31 (83.78 %). 48.64% of the people occupation was rearing the cattle’s, 45.95% depend on agriculture. Monthly income was categorized into...
A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khy... more A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to quantify environmental footprint, water footprint, cumulative energy use, and to identify improvement opportunities in the matchsticks manufacturing process. One carton of matchsticks was used as reference unit for this study. Foreground data was collected from the matchsticks industry through questionnaire surveys, personal meetings, and field measurements. The collected data was transformed into potential environmental impacts through the Centre for Environment Studies (CML) 2000 v.2.05 method present by default in the SimaPro v.9.1 software. Water footprint was calculated using methodology developed by Hoekstra et al., 2012 (water scarcity index) V1.02 and cumulative energy demand by SimaPro v.9.1 software. The results showed that transport of primary material (wood logs), sawn wood for matchsticks, red phosphorous, acrylic varnish, and kerosene...
Cellulose acetate (CA), and CA blended with Nicotiana tabacum ash (ACA) membranes have synthesize... more Cellulose acetate (CA), and CA blended with Nicotiana tabacum ash (ACA) membranes have synthesized and fabricated with zero-valent Fe NPs (ZVI) and named as CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0. The as-synthesized membranes were inspected for the removal and detoxification of toxic organic pollutants. Comparative studies of CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0 NPs were investigated for five model pollutants, such as 4-nitrophenol (4NP), methyl orange (MO), Congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB), and bromocresol green (BCG). The kinetic model indicated that the apparent rate constant K app value of ACA@Fe 0 was highest for all model pollutants compared to CA@Fe 0 NPs. The K app value is derived from pseudo-first-order kinetics. The K app value of MO discoloration was 8.17 × 10 −1 min −1 with ACA@Fe 0 which is highest than CA@Fe 0 (3.08 × 10 −1 min −1). The turnover frequency (TOF) was highest for ACA@Fe 0 for all the pollutants compared to CA@Fe 0 and the highest TOF value was found for CR dye with ACA@Fe 0 which is 0.523 h −1. Both the membranes also showed promising antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi. Furthermore, CA, ACA membrane and CA@Fe 0 and ACA@Fe 0 NPs were characterized through FESEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR and TGA analysis.
Human-wolf conflict is a major factor contributing to the decline of grey wolf population both lo... more Human-wolf conflict is a major factor contributing to the decline of grey wolf population both locally and globally. This study was carried out in December 2016 to determine the status and nature of human-wolf conflict in the study area. A total 80 locals from all walks of life were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. The grey wolf was declared as a common species by 50% of the locals with an annual sighting rate of 0.3 each. During the year, a total of 256 livestock were lost to grey wolf predation and disease. Of the total, grey wolf was held responsible for a total 71 livestock losses. Goat was the most vulnerable domestic prey as it accounted for 60.5% of the total reported depredations. Out of the total economic loss (USD 27562, USD 344.525/household), grey wolf was accountable for USD 6244 (USD 78.05/household), while disease contributed USD 21318 (USD 266/household). High depredation was observed during the summer season (54%) followed by spring and autumn. The unattended livestock grazing in forest were more prone to grey wolf attack. Most of the respondents (71%) displayed a negative attitude towards grey wolf. Reported human-wolf conflict in the area can be reduced by initiating wildlife importance related awareness programs, livestock vaccination and depredation compensation schemes. Active herding technique is also recommended to reduce chances of wolf attacks on livestock.
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
The regeneration of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) is a core issue for restoration ... more The regeneration of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc) is a core issue for restoration from secondary to primary forests. There is a lack of Korean pine regeneration in primary forests, compared to an abundance of regeneration in secondary forests. However, the mechanisms behind this mysterious phenomenon have not been studied. This study investigated seasonal understory light availability in addition to carbon (C) gain of understory Korean pine, nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) storage of Korean pine in secondary forests, and the growth and survival of seedlings under manipulated light regimes. Understory light intensities in early spring and late autumn in secondary forests were significantly higher than in primary forests. The C gain of understory Korean pine occurred mostly in early spring and late autumn, whereas it was negative in the growing season (summer). Total NSC concentrations of Korean pine saplings increased between growing seasons, and decreased during the growing season. In particular, the NSC was dominated by a progressive increase in starch in early spring and by a peak in soluble sugar in late autumn. In this study, the biomass, NSC concentration and pool sizes, as well as survival rates, were positively correlated with light availability, revealing that the species is shade intolerant. The accumulated survival rate, examined in the autumn, was less correlated with biomass, but positively correlated with the carbohydrate storage in autumn. High light availability and positive C gain in early spring and late autumn are key factors affecting the growth and survival of understory seedlings. These two periods in secondary forests are crucial for the survival of seedlings by ensuring sufficient energy to live through the long-lasting dark summer. In primary forests, however, light availability was relatively stable across all seasons, especially in the leafless period, and insufficient through-canopy radiation, along with dense lateral closure, caused seedlings mortality.
Climate change has become a global concern for scientists as it is affecting almost every ecosyst... more Climate change has become a global concern for scientists as it is affecting almost every ecosystem. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla are native and dominant forest species in the Daxing’anling Mountains of Inner Mongolia, playing a major role in carbon sequestration of this region. This study was carried out to assess the effect of climate variables including precipitation and temperature on the biomass of Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla forests. For this purpose, we used the climate-sensitive stem biomass allometric model for both species separately to find out accurate stem biomass along with climatic factors from 1950 to 2016. A total of 66 random plots were taken to attain the data from this study area. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla stem biomass have a strong correlation with annual precipitation (R2 = 0.86, R2 = 0.71, R2 = 0.79, and R2 = 0.59) and maximum temperature (R2 = 0.76, R2 = 0.64, R2 = 0.67, and R2 = 0.52). However, annual minimum temperature (R2 = ...
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution patter... more Using ground inventory and remotely sensed data, this study explored the tree distribution pattern, growing stock characteristics and carbon mitigation potential of different forests of the Hindukush region in Kumrat valley, of northern Pakistan. The results showed that forestland covered an area of 51.13% of the valley. Stem density varied between 243±55 to 585±221 ha-1. Tree height was found in the range of 3 m and 49.85 m among the different forests. The regression analysis between stem density and diameter showed a week correlation in Cedrus deodara (CD) and Abies pindrow forest (AP), but showed positive correlation in Pinus wallichiana (PW), mixed coniferous (MC), and open forest (OF). Tree basal area and stem volume ranged from 343.45±210.68 to 159.64±58.41 m 2 ha-1 and 343.45±210.68 to 2160.4±974.91 m 3 ha-1 respectively. The range of calculated tree biomass was between 244.06±153.25 and 1499.5±627.74 Mg C ha-1. The carbon values varied between 122.03±76.62 and 749.69±313.85 Mg C ha-1. The results showed that among the different forests, CD had the highest carbon mitigation potential and OF had the lowest carbon mitigation potential. Furthermore, our results showed that the values of stem volume, total tree biomass and carbon in each forest were highly correlated with the basal area. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that basal area is the best predictor of biomass carbon estimation in each forest that suggests the use of the basal area for biomass carbon estimation. This approach could considerably reduce both, financial and physical efforts in carbon inventory regarding the field data collection particularly over the extensive tract of underrepresented carbon forests in Pakistan.
In forest ecosystems, soil organic matter facilitates carbon sequestration and serves as a sink f... more In forest ecosystems, soil organic matter facilitates carbon sequestration and serves as a sink for atmospheric CO2. Carbon in forest soils plays an important role in mitigating global climate change. Soil carbon density was measured at three depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) in four different elevation classes sites at the forest exterior and forest interior in the subtropical forests of southeastern China. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) varied between 46.48 and 83.12 Mg ha-1 at forest exterior and 50.18 and 90.68 Mg ha-1 at forest interior in different elevation classes. A significant increasing trend in soil organic carbon was found with an increase in elevation at both forest exterior and forest interior. Similarly, a positive correlation between soil organic carbon and elevation was observed at forest exterior (R 2 = 0.87, P = 0.0001) and forest interior (R 2 = 0.93, P = 0.0001). The percentages of soil carbon at 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm depths at forest exterior and forest interior were 47.24-52.76, 47.23-52.77, and 46.95-53.05% respectively. Soil bulk density was directly related to soil depth and inversely related to elevation at forest exterior and forest interior. Overall the mean SOC at forest exterior and forest interior was 60.83 Mg ha-1 and 68.20 Mg ha-1 respectively. The study showed that there is a 5.7% difference in soil carbon density between forest exterior and forest interior which highlights the fact that ignoring edge effects may lead to overestimation of soil carbon density. Therefore, we suggest the establishment of permanent sample plots sites at the forest exterior and forest interior and recommend regular periodic surveys of soil for accurate forest soil carbon measurement.
The spectroscopic analysis of high protein nigella seeds (also called Kalonji) was performed usin... more The spectroscopic analysis of high protein nigella seeds (also called Kalonji) was performed using pulsed nanosecond laserinduced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) at 532 nm. The emission spectrum of Kalonji recorded with an LIBS spectrometer exposed the presence of various elements like Al,
Abstract Located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, subtropical and moist temperate for... more Abstract Located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, subtropical and moist temperate forests of Pakistan are very rich in flora and fauna. However, due to increased illegal and uncontrolled harvesting of wood, agricultural activities, and urbanization, these forests are fast disappearing. The recent expansion of human activities resulting illegal and uncontrolled harvesting, agricultural activities, and urbanization is a cause for concern. Using Landsat imagery, Markov Chain and Cellular Automata, this study focused on the quantitative assessment of spatiotemporal land use and land cover changes during 1998, 2008, 2018 and a simulation of 2028. In addition, a forest inventory survey of biomass and carbon sink were respectively calculated for these subtropical broad-leaved evergreen, subtropical chirpine and moist temperate forests. Results showed biomass was 560.56 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1, 350.95 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1 and 153.63 ± 104.33 Mg ha−1 in moist temperate, subtropical chirpine and subtropical broad-leaved forests respectively. Meanwhile, carbon was 313.94 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1, 221.34 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1 and 131.77 ± 44.78 Mg C ha−1 in moist temperate, subtropical chirpine and subtropical broad-leaved forests respectively. During the study period, land-use and land cover changes showed forest land changed from 40936.77 ha to 36709.23 ha, agricultural land from 4220.46 to 10374.64 ha, and built-up area from 1497.60 to 5395.12 ha. The average annual biomass and carbon loss were respectively 50.34 Gg ha−1yr−1 and 31.33 Gg C ha−1 yr−1. The information derived from this study could assist in the development of appropriate sustainable forest management policies in Pakistan.
Subtropical forest productivity is significantly affected by both natural disturbances (local and... more Subtropical forest productivity is significantly affected by both natural disturbances (local and regional climate changes) and anthropogenic activities (harvesting and planting). Monthly measures of forest aboveground productivity from natural forests (primary and secondary forests) and plantations (mixed and single-species forests) were developed to explore the sensitivity of subtropical mountain productivity to the fluctuating characteristics of climate change in South China, spanning the 35-year period from 1981 to 2015. Statistical analysis showed that climate regulation differed across different forest types. The monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were positively correlated with primary and mixed-forest aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its components: Wood productivity (WP) and canopy productivity (CP). However, the monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were negatively correlated with secondary and sin...
Bacterial cellulose (BC), owing to its pure nature and impressive physicochemical properties, inc... more Bacterial cellulose (BC), owing to its pure nature and impressive physicochemical properties, including high mechanical strength, crystallinity, porous fibrous structure, and liquid absorbing capabilities, has emerged as an advanced biomaterial. To match the market demand and economic values, BC has been produced through a number of synthetic routes, leading to slightly different structural features and physical appearance. Chemical nature, porous geometry, and 3D fibrous structure of BC make it an ideal material for composites synthesis that successfully overcome certain deficiencies of pure BC. In this review, we have focused various strategies developed for synthesizing BC and BC composites. Reinforcement materials including nanoparticles and polymers have enhanced the antimicrobial, conducting, magnetic, biocompatible, and mechanical properties of BC. Both pure BC and its composites have shown impressive applications in medical fields and in the development of optoelectronic dev...
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