Wheat growth and productivity are unfavorably pretentious by a lack of sufficient water (drought ... more Wheat growth and productivity are unfavorably pretentious by a lack of sufficient water (drought or water deficit) worldwide. Drought stress significantly affects all the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics and the agronomical yield of wheat. Different management approaches have been adopted to cope with the negative effects of water deficit. Soil-applied vermicompost is helpful in improving the growth and developmental processes of wheat under water deficit conditions. Therefore, a trial was carried out to optimize the best amount of vermicompost and to assess its role in ameliorating the negative effects of drought for sustainable crop production. The treatments consisted of 1) two contrasting wheat cultivars Faisalabad-08 (drought-tolerant) and Galaxy-13 (drought-sensitive), 2) drought with three levels [D0 = 70% of field capacity (no drought), D1 = 45% of field capacity (mild drought), and D2 = 30% of field capacity (severe drought)] and 3) cellulolytic microbe-...
The utilization of vermi-technology to reduce allelopathic effects is a cost-effective, efficient... more The utilization of vermi-technology to reduce allelopathic effects is a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally appropriate alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. The current investigation was an effort to obtain vermicompost from C. erectus and its binary combination with soil and farmyard manure (FYM) using E. foetida. The pH, EC, organic carbon, macro and micro-nutrients, CO2 emission, the average growth rate of the worms, number of worms, number of cocoons, and weight gained by earthworms were analyzed by standard methods. The present study also investigated the effect of produced vermicompost on the growth and yield of mung beans (Vigna radiata L). The maximum reduction in soil pH was observed (6.47) in vermicompost of C. erectus leaves, among other treatments. The highest N (1.86%), P (0.15%), and K (0.41%) contents were found in the vermicompost of C. erectus leaves + FYM. Similarly, the maximum plant height (36.00 cm) was achieved in vermicompost ...
Wheat is an important cereal crop, which is adversely affected by water deficit stress. The effec... more Wheat is an important cereal crop, which is adversely affected by water deficit stress. The effect of induced stress can be reduced by the application of salicylic acid (SA). With the objective to combat drought stress in wheat, an experiment was conducted in greenhouse under hydroponic conditions. The treatments consisted of (a) no drought (DD0 = 0 MPa), mild drought (DD1 = -0.40 MPa) and severe drought (DD2 = -0.60 MPa) by applying PEG-8000, (b) two contrasting wheat varieties Barani-17 (drought tolerant) and Anaj-17 (drought-sensitive), and (c) foliar treatments of salicylic acid (0, 50 mM, 75 mM, and 100 mM). Evaluation of wheat plants regarding biochemical, physiological, and morphological attributes were rendered after harvesting of plants. Statistically, maximum shoot and root fresh and dry weights (18.77, 11.15 and 1.99, 1.81 g, respectively) were recorded in cultivar Barani-17 under no drought condition with the application of SA (100 mM). While, minimum shoot and root fres...
Human efforts to produce more food for increasing populations leave marks on the environment. The... more Human efforts to produce more food for increasing populations leave marks on the environment. The use of conventional agricultural practices, including intensive tillage based on the removal of crop residue, has magnified soil erosion and soil degradation. In recent years, the progressive increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has created global interest in identifying different sustainable strategies in order to reduce their concentration in the atmosphere. Carbon stored in soil is 2–4 times higher than that stored in the atmosphere and four times more when compared to carbon stored in the vegetation. The process of carbon sequestration (CS) involves transferring CO2 from the atmosphere into the soil or storage of other forms of carbon to either defer or mitigate global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. The present review discusses the potential of soils in sequestering carbon and mitigating the accelerated greenhouse effects by adopting different agricu...
Nanotechnology has a wide range of applications. Nanotechnology refers to the particle in nanosca... more Nanotechnology has a wide range of applications. Nanotechnology refers to the particle in nanoscale used to improve agricultural productivity and to encounter the unsolved problems conventionally. Nanostructured formulation through mechanisms, such as targeted delivery or slow/controlled release mechanisms as well as conditional release, could release their active ingredients in response to the environmental conditions and biological demands more precisely. Nanotechnology has a great potential for achieving sustainable agriculture, especially in developing countries. Salinity is among the major abiotic stresses which limits the yield and quality of global crops. Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that is mandatory for the ideal growth of plants and has proved to reduce the hazardous effects of salt stress. To counter the salinity problem, a pot experiment was conducted at wire house of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences (ISES), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pa...
Water scarcity is one of the key global challenges affecting food safety, food security, and huma... more Water scarcity is one of the key global challenges affecting food safety, food security, and human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) provide a sustainable tool to remediate wastewater. Here we explored the potential of vertical flow-CWs (VF-CWs) vegetated with ten indigenous wetland plant species to treat chromium (Cr)-contaminated water. The wetland plants were vegetated to develop VF-CWs to treat Cr-contaminated water in a batch mode. Results revealed that the Cr removal potential of VF-CWs vegetated with different wetland plants ranged from 47% to 92% at low (15 mg L−1) Cr levels and 36% to 92% at high (30 mg L−1) Cr levels, with the maximum (92%) Cr removal exhibited by VF-CWs vegetated with Leptochloa fusca. Hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) was reduced to trivalent Cr (Cr(III)) in treated water (96–99 %) of all VF-CWs. All the wetland plants accumulated Cr in the shoot (1.9–34 mg kg−1 dry weight (DW)), although Cr content was higher in the roots (74–698 mg kg−1 DW) than in the shoots. B...
Pakistan is ranked third among countries facing severe water shortage. Yet the country’s water re... more Pakistan is ranked third among countries facing severe water shortage. Yet the country’s water resources are being depleted with such intensity that it has become a country with physical water deficiency, with water contamination another contributing factor. Most of the population is exposed to hazards of drinking unsafe and polluted surface and groundwater due to unavailability of clean water. Over 60% of the population get their drinking water from hand or motor pumps, with the figure in rural areas being over 70%. Inadequate quantity and quality of potable water and poor sanitation facilities and practices are associated with a host of illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, intestinal worms and hepatitis resulting in national income losses of Rs. 25–28 billion annually, or approximately 0.6–1.44% of the country’s GDP. Studies conducted by national and international agencies suggest that all key quality parameters for Pakistan’s drinking water are exceeding acceptable limits. This chapter provides an updated review of literature on water quality issues in Pakistan, sources of contamination, and health impacts. The review leads to a set of strategies that Pakistan could adopt to reduce the level of water-borne health impacts.
Water scarcity is a major challenge to wheat productivity under changing climate conditions, espe... more Water scarcity is a major challenge to wheat productivity under changing climate conditions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. During recent years, different agronomic, physiological and molecular approaches have been used to overcome the problems related to drought stress. Breeding approaches, including conventional and modern breeding, are among the most efficient options to overcome drought stress through the development of new varieties adapted to drought. Growing drought-tolerant wheat genotypes may be a sustainable option to boost wheat productivity under drought stress conditions. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim to screen different wheat genotypes based on stress tolerance levels. For this purpose, eleven commonly cultivated wheat genotypes (V1 = Akbar-2019, V2 = Ghazi-2019, V3 = Ujala-2016, V4 = Zincol-2016, V5 = Anaj-2017, V6 = Galaxy-2013, V7 = Pakistan-2013, V8 = Seher-2006, V9 = Lasani-2008, V10 = Faisalabad-2008 and V11 = Millat-2011) wer...
Malnutrition a health disorders arising due to over or low use of minerals, vitamins and nutritio... more Malnutrition a health disorders arising due to over or low use of minerals, vitamins and nutritional substances required for proper functioning of body tissues and organs. Zinc (Zn) is the most important mineral required for the normal metabolism of plants and humans. Zinc-deficiency is one of the major cause of malnutrition globally. Maize is highly susceptible to Zn-deficiency and inflicts Zn-deficiency to humans and other animals being nourished on it. This study evaluated the effect of zinc-lysine chelate alone (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) as seed priming and in combination with Zn-solubilizing bacteria (PMEL-1, PMEL-48, PMEL-57and PMEL-71)) on grain biofortification of autumn maize. The Zn accumulation in different parts (roots, stem, leaves, grains and cob pith) was quantified. Results indicated that Zn contents were 18.5% higher in the seeds primed with 1.5% solution of Zn-lysine chelate and inoculation of ZSB strains compared to control treatments. Seed priming with 1.5% Zn-lysi...
Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd u... more Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd uptake by wheat is amongst the main causes of Cd entrance into the food chain. The current study examined the effect of foliar application (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.00 mM) of various silicate chemicals (calcium silicate and potassium silicate) on wheat growth and Cd addition by wheat under Cd stress 20 mg kg−1 of soil using CdCl2. The results revealed that under control conditions, the application of Si improved all the growth, physiological, biochemical and quality attributes by reducing malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage. Under Cd stress, the supplementation of Si conferred a better growth rate, gaseous exchange for metabolic activity and maintained the tissues’ turgor and membranes’ stabilities compared to those obtained under control (without Si). The enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) also show rapid action by the application of Si supplemen...
Dry direct-seeded rice has been shown to save irrigation water and labor. Nonetheless, irrigation... more Dry direct-seeded rice has been shown to save irrigation water and labor. Nonetheless, irrigation management in dry direct-seeded rice has received very little attention. Here, we examined the potential of different irrigation regimes: aerobic rice (AR), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF) in dry direct-seeded rice cultivation on two rice cultivars (Pride-1 (hybrid indica) and NB-1 (inbred indica)). Growth, yield attributes, grain yield, total water input, water productivity and benefit cost ratio were measured. Our results showed that AR saved 11.22 and 28.40%, and 5.72 and 32.98% water compared with AWD and CF during 2018 and 2020, respectively. There was a significant difference in grain yield among treatments and cultivars. AWD and CF produced statistically same total dry weight and grain yield, while AR reduced the total dry weight by 31.34% and 38.04% and grain yield by 34.82% and 38.16% in comparison to AWD and CF, respectively, across the years. E...
Arsenic contamination of soils is a global environmental, agricultural, and health issue given to... more Arsenic contamination of soils is a global environmental, agricultural, and health issue given to the toxic and carcinogenic nature of As. Several anthropogenic activities, such as mining and smelting, coal combustion, wood preservation, leather tanning operations, and use of As-based pesticides in agriculture, have led to elevated concentrations of As in soil. Therefore, remediation and restoration of As-contaminated soils is imperative for providing safe food and healthy soils. In contrast to conventional (physicochemical) remediation methods, phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils using As-hyperaccumulating fern species has emerged as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient technology. Since the discovery of As-hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata L., several other As-hyperaccumulating fern species have been identified in Pteris and Pityrogramma genera which demonstrated the ability to remove As from soil. This review will briefly discuss about the As dynamics and availability in soil; elucidate the mechanisms involved in As tolerance and (hyper)accumulation by ferns/plants for improving the phytoremediation efficiency; evaluate the capacity of As-hyperaccumulating fern species (e.g., P. vittata, Pityrogramma calomelanos) for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils under pot and field conditions; and discuss how phosphate amendments, microbes, and agronomic practices can increase phytoremediation efficiency of the ferns.
Wheat growth and productivity are unfavorably pretentious by a lack of sufficient water (drought ... more Wheat growth and productivity are unfavorably pretentious by a lack of sufficient water (drought or water deficit) worldwide. Drought stress significantly affects all the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics and the agronomical yield of wheat. Different management approaches have been adopted to cope with the negative effects of water deficit. Soil-applied vermicompost is helpful in improving the growth and developmental processes of wheat under water deficit conditions. Therefore, a trial was carried out to optimize the best amount of vermicompost and to assess its role in ameliorating the negative effects of drought for sustainable crop production. The treatments consisted of 1) two contrasting wheat cultivars Faisalabad-08 (drought-tolerant) and Galaxy-13 (drought-sensitive), 2) drought with three levels [D0 = 70% of field capacity (no drought), D1 = 45% of field capacity (mild drought), and D2 = 30% of field capacity (severe drought)] and 3) cellulolytic microbe-...
The utilization of vermi-technology to reduce allelopathic effects is a cost-effective, efficient... more The utilization of vermi-technology to reduce allelopathic effects is a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally appropriate alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. The current investigation was an effort to obtain vermicompost from C. erectus and its binary combination with soil and farmyard manure (FYM) using E. foetida. The pH, EC, organic carbon, macro and micro-nutrients, CO2 emission, the average growth rate of the worms, number of worms, number of cocoons, and weight gained by earthworms were analyzed by standard methods. The present study also investigated the effect of produced vermicompost on the growth and yield of mung beans (Vigna radiata L). The maximum reduction in soil pH was observed (6.47) in vermicompost of C. erectus leaves, among other treatments. The highest N (1.86%), P (0.15%), and K (0.41%) contents were found in the vermicompost of C. erectus leaves + FYM. Similarly, the maximum plant height (36.00 cm) was achieved in vermicompost ...
Wheat is an important cereal crop, which is adversely affected by water deficit stress. The effec... more Wheat is an important cereal crop, which is adversely affected by water deficit stress. The effect of induced stress can be reduced by the application of salicylic acid (SA). With the objective to combat drought stress in wheat, an experiment was conducted in greenhouse under hydroponic conditions. The treatments consisted of (a) no drought (DD0 = 0 MPa), mild drought (DD1 = -0.40 MPa) and severe drought (DD2 = -0.60 MPa) by applying PEG-8000, (b) two contrasting wheat varieties Barani-17 (drought tolerant) and Anaj-17 (drought-sensitive), and (c) foliar treatments of salicylic acid (0, 50 mM, 75 mM, and 100 mM). Evaluation of wheat plants regarding biochemical, physiological, and morphological attributes were rendered after harvesting of plants. Statistically, maximum shoot and root fresh and dry weights (18.77, 11.15 and 1.99, 1.81 g, respectively) were recorded in cultivar Barani-17 under no drought condition with the application of SA (100 mM). While, minimum shoot and root fres...
Human efforts to produce more food for increasing populations leave marks on the environment. The... more Human efforts to produce more food for increasing populations leave marks on the environment. The use of conventional agricultural practices, including intensive tillage based on the removal of crop residue, has magnified soil erosion and soil degradation. In recent years, the progressive increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has created global interest in identifying different sustainable strategies in order to reduce their concentration in the atmosphere. Carbon stored in soil is 2–4 times higher than that stored in the atmosphere and four times more when compared to carbon stored in the vegetation. The process of carbon sequestration (CS) involves transferring CO2 from the atmosphere into the soil or storage of other forms of carbon to either defer or mitigate global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. The present review discusses the potential of soils in sequestering carbon and mitigating the accelerated greenhouse effects by adopting different agricu...
Nanotechnology has a wide range of applications. Nanotechnology refers to the particle in nanosca... more Nanotechnology has a wide range of applications. Nanotechnology refers to the particle in nanoscale used to improve agricultural productivity and to encounter the unsolved problems conventionally. Nanostructured formulation through mechanisms, such as targeted delivery or slow/controlled release mechanisms as well as conditional release, could release their active ingredients in response to the environmental conditions and biological demands more precisely. Nanotechnology has a great potential for achieving sustainable agriculture, especially in developing countries. Salinity is among the major abiotic stresses which limits the yield and quality of global crops. Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that is mandatory for the ideal growth of plants and has proved to reduce the hazardous effects of salt stress. To counter the salinity problem, a pot experiment was conducted at wire house of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences (ISES), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pa...
Water scarcity is one of the key global challenges affecting food safety, food security, and huma... more Water scarcity is one of the key global challenges affecting food safety, food security, and human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) provide a sustainable tool to remediate wastewater. Here we explored the potential of vertical flow-CWs (VF-CWs) vegetated with ten indigenous wetland plant species to treat chromium (Cr)-contaminated water. The wetland plants were vegetated to develop VF-CWs to treat Cr-contaminated water in a batch mode. Results revealed that the Cr removal potential of VF-CWs vegetated with different wetland plants ranged from 47% to 92% at low (15 mg L−1) Cr levels and 36% to 92% at high (30 mg L−1) Cr levels, with the maximum (92%) Cr removal exhibited by VF-CWs vegetated with Leptochloa fusca. Hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) was reduced to trivalent Cr (Cr(III)) in treated water (96–99 %) of all VF-CWs. All the wetland plants accumulated Cr in the shoot (1.9–34 mg kg−1 dry weight (DW)), although Cr content was higher in the roots (74–698 mg kg−1 DW) than in the shoots. B...
Pakistan is ranked third among countries facing severe water shortage. Yet the country’s water re... more Pakistan is ranked third among countries facing severe water shortage. Yet the country’s water resources are being depleted with such intensity that it has become a country with physical water deficiency, with water contamination another contributing factor. Most of the population is exposed to hazards of drinking unsafe and polluted surface and groundwater due to unavailability of clean water. Over 60% of the population get their drinking water from hand or motor pumps, with the figure in rural areas being over 70%. Inadequate quantity and quality of potable water and poor sanitation facilities and practices are associated with a host of illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, intestinal worms and hepatitis resulting in national income losses of Rs. 25–28 billion annually, or approximately 0.6–1.44% of the country’s GDP. Studies conducted by national and international agencies suggest that all key quality parameters for Pakistan’s drinking water are exceeding acceptable limits. This chapter provides an updated review of literature on water quality issues in Pakistan, sources of contamination, and health impacts. The review leads to a set of strategies that Pakistan could adopt to reduce the level of water-borne health impacts.
Water scarcity is a major challenge to wheat productivity under changing climate conditions, espe... more Water scarcity is a major challenge to wheat productivity under changing climate conditions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. During recent years, different agronomic, physiological and molecular approaches have been used to overcome the problems related to drought stress. Breeding approaches, including conventional and modern breeding, are among the most efficient options to overcome drought stress through the development of new varieties adapted to drought. Growing drought-tolerant wheat genotypes may be a sustainable option to boost wheat productivity under drought stress conditions. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim to screen different wheat genotypes based on stress tolerance levels. For this purpose, eleven commonly cultivated wheat genotypes (V1 = Akbar-2019, V2 = Ghazi-2019, V3 = Ujala-2016, V4 = Zincol-2016, V5 = Anaj-2017, V6 = Galaxy-2013, V7 = Pakistan-2013, V8 = Seher-2006, V9 = Lasani-2008, V10 = Faisalabad-2008 and V11 = Millat-2011) wer...
Malnutrition a health disorders arising due to over or low use of minerals, vitamins and nutritio... more Malnutrition a health disorders arising due to over or low use of minerals, vitamins and nutritional substances required for proper functioning of body tissues and organs. Zinc (Zn) is the most important mineral required for the normal metabolism of plants and humans. Zinc-deficiency is one of the major cause of malnutrition globally. Maize is highly susceptible to Zn-deficiency and inflicts Zn-deficiency to humans and other animals being nourished on it. This study evaluated the effect of zinc-lysine chelate alone (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) as seed priming and in combination with Zn-solubilizing bacteria (PMEL-1, PMEL-48, PMEL-57and PMEL-71)) on grain biofortification of autumn maize. The Zn accumulation in different parts (roots, stem, leaves, grains and cob pith) was quantified. Results indicated that Zn contents were 18.5% higher in the seeds primed with 1.5% solution of Zn-lysine chelate and inoculation of ZSB strains compared to control treatments. Seed priming with 1.5% Zn-lysi...
Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd u... more Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd uptake by wheat is amongst the main causes of Cd entrance into the food chain. The current study examined the effect of foliar application (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.00 mM) of various silicate chemicals (calcium silicate and potassium silicate) on wheat growth and Cd addition by wheat under Cd stress 20 mg kg−1 of soil using CdCl2. The results revealed that under control conditions, the application of Si improved all the growth, physiological, biochemical and quality attributes by reducing malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage. Under Cd stress, the supplementation of Si conferred a better growth rate, gaseous exchange for metabolic activity and maintained the tissues’ turgor and membranes’ stabilities compared to those obtained under control (without Si). The enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) also show rapid action by the application of Si supplemen...
Dry direct-seeded rice has been shown to save irrigation water and labor. Nonetheless, irrigation... more Dry direct-seeded rice has been shown to save irrigation water and labor. Nonetheless, irrigation management in dry direct-seeded rice has received very little attention. Here, we examined the potential of different irrigation regimes: aerobic rice (AR), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF) in dry direct-seeded rice cultivation on two rice cultivars (Pride-1 (hybrid indica) and NB-1 (inbred indica)). Growth, yield attributes, grain yield, total water input, water productivity and benefit cost ratio were measured. Our results showed that AR saved 11.22 and 28.40%, and 5.72 and 32.98% water compared with AWD and CF during 2018 and 2020, respectively. There was a significant difference in grain yield among treatments and cultivars. AWD and CF produced statistically same total dry weight and grain yield, while AR reduced the total dry weight by 31.34% and 38.04% and grain yield by 34.82% and 38.16% in comparison to AWD and CF, respectively, across the years. E...
Arsenic contamination of soils is a global environmental, agricultural, and health issue given to... more Arsenic contamination of soils is a global environmental, agricultural, and health issue given to the toxic and carcinogenic nature of As. Several anthropogenic activities, such as mining and smelting, coal combustion, wood preservation, leather tanning operations, and use of As-based pesticides in agriculture, have led to elevated concentrations of As in soil. Therefore, remediation and restoration of As-contaminated soils is imperative for providing safe food and healthy soils. In contrast to conventional (physicochemical) remediation methods, phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils using As-hyperaccumulating fern species has emerged as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient technology. Since the discovery of As-hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata L., several other As-hyperaccumulating fern species have been identified in Pteris and Pityrogramma genera which demonstrated the ability to remove As from soil. This review will briefly discuss about the As dynamics and availability in soil; elucidate the mechanisms involved in As tolerance and (hyper)accumulation by ferns/plants for improving the phytoremediation efficiency; evaluate the capacity of As-hyperaccumulating fern species (e.g., P. vittata, Pityrogramma calomelanos) for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils under pot and field conditions; and discuss how phosphate amendments, microbes, and agronomic practices can increase phytoremediation efficiency of the ferns.
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