Spatio-temporal variability of drought characteristics across Pakistan     

Lee  Jae Eun  Azam  Muhammad  Rehman  Saif Ur  Waseem  Muhammad  Anjum  M. Naveed  Afzal  Arslan  Cheema  M. J. M.  Mehtab  Muhammad  Latif  Muhammad  Ahmed  Rehan  Umar  Muhammad  Sarwar  Abid  Rehman  Syed Aziz Ur 《Paddy and Water Environment》2022,20(1):117-135

Climate change in Pakistan has a great impact on the spatial and temporal variation of precipitation and ultimately alters the frequency and duration of droughts. In this study, spatial and temporal trend analyses of precipitation and droughts were observed at 58 meteorological stations across Pakistan from 1981 to 2018. The existing trend analysis methods were evaluated to address the issue of serial correlation in the climatic data. Results of precipitation analysis showed significant decreasing trends in winter (November, December) and significant increasing trends were observed in summer (June and September) at a confidence level of 95 percent. The magnitude of the precipitation trends showed the highest variation during summer season and the least variation in winter season. Rotated Principal Component (RPC) analysis showed the severe droughts (high positive loading) in southeastern side (Sindh province) of Pakistan due to lack of summer rains. Furthermore, variance correction approaches are identified as the most suitable in coping with the effect of serial correlation. The highest drought frequencies were observed in the southern areas of Pakistan and the drought events are expected to occur more frequently in the late winter, early spring, and early autumn, while droughts were expected to occur least frequently in summer.

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Genetic analysis of post-weaning growth traits of Thalli sheep under tropical conditions     

Asghar Hussain  Pervez Akhtar  Safdar Ali  Khalid Javed  Muhammad Younas  Abdul Shakoor  Usman Waheed 《Tropical animal health and production》2014,46(8):1527-1531

Present investigation was carried out to study the influence of genetic and non-genetic factors affecting post-weaning performance traits in Thalli sheep. Data on post-weaning growth of Thalli sheep maintained at Livestock Experiment Station, Rakh Ghulaman, District Bhakkar-Punjab, Pakistan during 1977–2003 were subjected to genetic analysis. The average values for weight at 180 and 270 days of age, yearling weight and post-weaning average daily gain were 22.37?±?4.21, 25.96?±?4.90 and 28.93?±?5.20 kg and 28?±?0.01 g/day, respectively. Weight at 180, 270 and 365 days of age and post-weaning average daily gain were significantly affected by year of birth, sex, type of birth and weaning weight (covariable) whereas season of birth was a significant source of variation for 180 and 270 days of age. The heritability estimates for 180 and 270 days, yearling weight and post-weaning average daily gain were 0.07?±?0.02, 0.08?±?0.02, 0.07?±?0.02 and 0.07?±?0.02, respectively.  相似文献   

Effects of dietary pyridoxine on growth and biochemical responses of Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan     

M.S. Akhtar  A.K. PalN.P. Sahu  Alexander CijiS.K. Gupta 《Pesticide biochemistry and physiology》2012,103(1):23-30

A sixty-day experiment was carried out to study the effect of dietary pyridoxine (PN) on growth performance, RNA/DNA ratio and some biochemical parameters of Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to sub-lethal dose of endosulfan (1/10th of 96 h static non-renewal LC₅₀ = 0.2 ppb) to assess the role of pyridoxine in ameliorating the negative effects of endosulfan. Two hundred seventy fingerlings (6.5 ± 0.26 g) were randomly distributed into six treatments in triplicates (15 fish/tank). Five iso-nitrogenous (35.45-35.75% crude protein) purified diets were prepared with graded levels of pyridoxine. Six treatment groups were T₀ (10 mg PN + without endosulfan), T₁ (0 mg PN + endosulfan), T₂ (10 mg PN + endosulfan), T₃ (50 mg PN + endosulfan), T₄ (100 mg PN + endosulfan) and T₅ (200 mg PN + endosulfan). Weight gain (%), specific growth rate (SGR), tissue glycogen, and protease activity were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in pyridoxine fed groups compared to their non-pyridoxine fed counterpart. Protease activity was positively correlated (R² = 0.931) with (%) weight gain. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in non-pyridoxine fed group and decreased in pyridoxine fed counterparts. There were no significant (P > 0.05) effect of dietary pyridoxine on feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), survival, gastro-somatic index (GSI), hepato-somatic index (HSI) and liver and muscle DNA levels of L. rohita fingerlings. RNA levels, both in liver and muscle, increased significantly (P < 0.05) in pyridoxine fed groups. A positive correlation was observed between growth and RNA levels, both in liver (R² = 0.91) and muscle (R² = 0.88). RNA/DNA ratio showed a third order polynomial relationship with dietary pyridoxine, both in liver (Y = −0.014x³ + 0.1613x² − 0.5333x + 0.7933, R² = 0.987) and muscle (Y = −0.0407x³ + 0.4763x² − 1.6358x + 2.4667, R² = 0.9345). The overall results obtained in present study indicated that dietary pyridoxine supplementation at 100 or 200 mg PN/kg diet ameliorates the negative effects of endosulfan and restores optimal growth of L. rohita fingerlings.  相似文献   

Exploring the Role of Calcium to Improve Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize     

M. Farooq  T. Aziz  S. M. A. Basra  A. Wahid  A. Khaliq  M. A. Cheema 《Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science》2008,194(5):350-359

Abiotic stresses, including chilling, impede the plant growth and development mainly by oxidative damage. In this study, seed priming with CaCl₂ was employed to reduce the damage caused by chilling stress in hybrid maize. Maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ (ppm) aerated solution of CaCl₂ for 24 h and dried. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Seed priming with CaCl₂ significantly reduced the chilling damage and improved the germination rate, root and shoot length, and seedling fresh and dry weights. Activities of antioxidants, including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, were also improved. Soluble sugars and α-amylase concentrations determined as general metabolic indicators of stress were also increased by seed priming with CaCl₂. Priming also improved the performance of maize at optimal temperature. Maintenance of tissue water contents, reduction in membrane leakage and increase in antioxidant activities, and carbohydrate metabolism seemed to induce chilling tolerance by CaCl₂. Seed priming with 100 mg l⁻¹ CaCl₂ was the optimal concentration in improving the performance of hybrid maize both under optimal and stress conditions.  相似文献   

Characterization of the 1B/1R translocation in wheat using water extractable protein concentrate   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Akhtar Hussain  Odean M. Lukow 《Euphytica》1994,78(1-2):109-113

Summary An electrophoretic procedure was developed to obtain patterns of water soluble proteins from the endosperm halves of seeds to detect the 1B/1R translocation in wheat cultivars. The water soluble proteins were precipitated with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 and separated in a 10% polyacrylamide gel with sodium dodecyl sulfate. This procedure extracted protein bands (Mr 40,000, 44,000 and 45,000) corresponding to the -secalins of the rye parent which were present only in the wheat cultivars carrying 1B/1R translocation. By simplifying extract preparation and providing clear band resolution this procedure facilitates large scale screening of wheat lines for the rye translocation. Proteins with properties of overlapping solubilities are also discussed.Abbreviations CBB - Coomassie Brilliant Blue - DDW - deionized distilled water - DTT - dithiothreitol - HMW - high molecular weight - PAGE - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - Mr - relative molecular mass - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate Contribution 1569 of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada  相似文献   

Surface entrapment of toxic metals from electroplating waste and their possible recovery     

Mohammad Ajmal  Afsar M. Sulaiman  Akhtar Hussain Khan 《Water, air, and soil pollution》1993,68(3-4):485-492

Heavy metal ions such as Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd and Zn have been removed from the electroplating waste using Fe(III) hydroxide as adsorbent. The maximum removal of these metal ions (>90%) occurred at pH 8 to 9. Removal of SO ₄ ^2? (98%) occurred at pH 4. Anions were found to play a negative role in the adsorption phenomenon. Metal ion Sorption has been found to decrease with increasing anionic concentrations. The methodology proposed might provide an inexpensive and economical procedure for removal and recovery of toxic metals from electroplating wastes.  相似文献   

Effects of AM fungi and organic fertilizers on the reproduction of the nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> and on the growth and water loss of tomato     

Zaki A. Siddiqui  M. Sayeed Akhtar 《Biology and Fertility of Soils》2007,43(5):603-609

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to assess the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora margarita) and organic fertilizers (cow dung, horse dung, goat dung and poultry manure) alone and in combination on the reproduction of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita and on growth and water loss of tomato. Meloidogyne incognita decreased water loss of tomato from the first week onwards after inoculation. AM fungi increased water loss of both nematode-infected and uninfected plants. Glomus mosseae was better at improving growth of tomato and reducing galling and nematode multiplication than G. margarita, but the rate of water loss was similar with both fungi. Addition of organic fertilizers improved growth of tomato, but decreased the rate of water loss. There was less galling and nematode multiplication with poultry manure, which improved tomato growth more than goat dung, while cow dung was the least effective organic fertilizer. Greatest plant growth and least nematode reproduction were observed in plants inoculated with M. incognita along with G. mosseae and poultry manure.  相似文献   

OPTIMUM DESIGN OF SEDIMENTATION TANKS BASED ON SETTLING CHARACTERISTICS OF KARACHI TANNERY WASTES     

Akhtar  Waseem  Rauf  Muhammad  Ali  Iqbal  Nayeemuddin 《Water, air, and soil pollution》1997,98(3-4):199-211

A study was carried out in a specially designed settling column to investigate the settling characteristics of effluents arising from Karachi tanneries. The Jar-tests were conducted to determine the optimum dosage of coagulants such as potash alum and ferric chloride to maximize the removal of suspended solids (S.S) from the wastes. For alum, the optimum dosage was found to be 150 mg L^-1, whereas with ferric chloride it was 30 mg L^-1. Experiments carried out in the settling column with the optimum coagulant dosages showed that the coagulation with ferric chloride was much better than with alum, as it removes about 84% S.S from the wastes compared to 70% removal obtained in case of alum. Design curves in terms of percent removal of S.S. vs loading rate and detention time were constructed using data obtained from settling column. These curves can be used in designing the settling tanks employed in the tannery wastes treatment plants.  相似文献   

Substrate-dependent biosynthesis of ethylene by rhizosphere soil fungi and its influence on etiolated pea seedlings   总被引：1，自引：2，他引：1  

Muhammad J. Akhtar  Muhammad Arshad  Azeem Khalid  Muhammad H. Mahmood 《Pedobiologia》2005,49(3):211-219

Several fungi were isolated from rhizosphere soils of various crops through enrichment on l-methionine (l-MET) as a sole C and N source. These fungi were examined for their C₂H₄ production potential in vitro. GC-FID analysis indicated that 78%, 83%, 89% and 72% of fungi isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat, maize, potato and tomato, respectively, produced C₂H₄ from substrate l-MET. Eight of the most efficient C₂H₄-producing fungal isolates (two from each crop) were further tested for their ability to produce C₂H₄ from 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid (KMBA) and α-ketoglutaric acid (α-KGA). Interestingly, all eight fungi produced C₂H₄ from KMBA, but none used α-KGA as C₂H₄ precursor. This result implies that the MET→KMBA→C₂H₄ pathway was most likely operating in these fungi. The most efficient C₂H₄ producer fungus (isolated from maize rhizosphere soil) was identified as Aspergillus terreus; this isolate was further studied to determine the optimal conditions for C₂H₄ production from l-MET. It was observed that a substrate (l-MET) concentration of 10 mmol l⁻¹, a glucose (C-source) concentration of 6.0 g L⁻¹, no nitrogen, a pH of 6.0, an incubation temperature of 30 °C and an incubation time of 72 h were optimal conditions for l-MET-derived C₂H₄ biosynthesis by Aspergillus terreus. In addition, C₂H₄ released from precursor (l-MET) by Aspergillus terreus significantly affected the seedling length and stem diameter of etiolated pea seedlings in both sterilized and non-sterilized soils compared to a control. C₂H₄-producing microflora may be ubiquitous in soil, and the availability of a substrate like l-MET could enhance C₂H₄ synthesis in the rhizosphere of a plant, in turn evoking a physiological response. As far as we know, this study represents the first comprehensive screening of rhizosphere fungi for their ability to produce C₂H₄ from l-MET and KMBA.  相似文献   

Pot study on wheat growth in saline and waterlogged compacted soil: II. Root growth and leaf ionic relations     

Muhammad Saqib  Javaid Akhtar  Riaz Hussain Qureshi 《Soil & Tillage Research》2004,77(2):179-187

Soil compaction affects plant growth by causing increased resistance to root penetration and a decreased uptake of water and ions. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil compaction in conjunction with the soil salinity and waterlogging on root growth and leaf ionic composition of two wheat genotypes (Aqaab and MH-97). Compaction was achieved at a 10% soil moisture content by dropping 5 kg weight, controlled by a tripod stand for 20 times from 0.6 m height on a wooden block placed inside the soil-filled pots. Soil bulk density of non-compact and compact treatments was measured as 1.21 and 1.65 Mg m⁻³, respectively. The desired salinity level (15 dS m⁻¹) was developed by mixing required amount of NaCl in the soil before filling the pots. Waterlogging was developed by flooding the pots for 21 days both at tillering and booting stages. Compaction significantly reduced the root length density (RLD) of both the wheat genotypes while the combined effect of compaction×salinity was more drastic on root length density than compaction alone. Waterlogging however, did not decrease the root length density, rather it mitigated the effect of compaction. Compaction decreased the concentration of K⁺ and K⁺:Na⁺ ratio in leaves. Salinity also decreased the concentration of K⁺ and K⁺:Na⁺ ratio, but increased the concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in the crop leaves. Salinity and compaction interacted to cause a greater reduction in K⁺ concentration and the K⁺:Na⁺ ratio, while there was lesser increase in the concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ compared with salinity alone. Waterlogging also decreased the concentration of K⁺ and K⁺:Na⁺ ratio in leaves. It intensified the effect of salinity but decreased the effect of compaction on leaf ionic composition. Therefore, the effect of compaction on root growth and ion uptake is more severe under salt-affected soil conditions than under normal soil conditions while occasional waterlogging of a compact soil for a few days makes the soil conditions favorable for root growth both under non-saline as well as saline soil conditions. Also, the performance of a genotype in stressed environment is related to maintenance of higher root length density, leaf K⁺ concentration and K⁺:Na⁺ ratio and lower leaf Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations.  相似文献