Agroforestry Systems as Alternative Land-Use Options in the Arid Zone of Thal,Pakistan

Agroforestry offers unique opportunities for increasing biodiversity, preventing land degradation, and alleviating poverty, particularly in developing countries, but factors explaining the adoption by farmers are not well understood. A survey of 524 farm households was conducted in Bhakkar district of Punjab, Pakistan to study factors that determine the adoption of agroforestry on the sand dunes in the resource-deficient region of Thal. Two types of agroforestry systems were studied: intercropping and border cropping (also known as boundary or perimeter planting). Both agroforestry systems included irrigated cultivation of the timber trees Eucalyptus camaldulensis (local name: sufeda) and Tamarix aphylla (local name: sars) with wheat, chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) (local name: chana) or cluster beans (Cyamous tetragocalobe) (local name: guars). The majority of the farmers was in favour of intercropping and border cropping. Most farmers reported the protection of nearby crops from dust storms as the most important positive perception about both agroforestry systems. Age, education, and farm to market distance were significant determinants of agroforestry adoption. Older and less-educated farmers, with farms closer to markets were less likely to adopt tree planting or border cropping in Thal. In general, the agroforestry systems examined were more likely to be adopted by farmers who can wait 3–4 years for harvesting crop outputs, but not by poorer farmers who are totally dependent on subsistence agriculture and cannot afford the high initial cost of agroforestry establishment, nor can they wait for crop output for extended periods. Furthermore, the adoption of both agroforestry systems was more likely in remote marginal areas than in areas close to markets. To increase agroforestry adoption rates, government policies should strengthen farmers’ knowledge of every stage of agroforestry through extension services, focusing particularly among the prime prospects, i.e. farmers who will be most likely to adopt agroforestry. Once the prime prospects have adopted it, the older, less-educated, and poor farmers of the rural population can be also focused on to motivate adoption.     

Growth behavior of itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) in Peninsular Malaysia

A glasshouse experiment was conducted at University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, to study the growth pattern of itchgrass collected from 13 locations. The itchgrass was either associated with crops or found along roadsides in six infested estates located in Johor, Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Selangor. Significant differences between populations were observed in all variables except in time to seedling emergence. Cluster analysis of the data classified the populations into three major groups. The first group comprised populations from Johor, Pahang and Perak found in association with banana, cocoa and oil palm plantations, or along the roadsides. The second group comprised populations from Kedah, Perlis and Selangor found in association with maize, upland rice, rubber, sugar cane and tobacco plantations. The third group was a distinct population found only along roadsides at Padang Kartong, Perlis. Principal component analysis was performed to determine the growth characteristics that separated the groups. The results showed that plant height, number of leaves, number of seeds/plant, secondary culm diameter and the weight of 100 intact or dehulled seeds were the most significant characteristics that differentiated the groups. The study provided strong evidence of the existence of three itchgrass groups in Peninsular Malaysia.     

Association of gene for grain colour with monosome XIV of Avena sativa L.

Summary The F₂'s from crosses between Dyfed (S.240; a black grained cultivar) and monosomics of Sun II (non-black cultivar) were analysed. With the exception of F₂ progenies involving monosomes, II, VI, VII, X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV, all other deviated from the genetic ratio 3 black: 1 non-black. The cytological examination of the non-black individuals belonging to those families that did not deviate from the 3:1 ratio showed that they were either 41- or 42-chromosome plants. However, non-black individuals involving monosome XIV were 40-chromosome plants. The gene conferring the black colour to the grains in Avena sativa cv. Dyfed (S.240) is located on chromosome XIV.Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sind Agriculture University. Tando Jam. Pakistan.     

Supplementation of Selenium Nanoparticles-Loaded Chitosan Improves Production Performance,Intestinal Morphology,and Gut Microflora in Broiler Chickens

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), combined or loaded with chitosan (COS), in broiler chickens reared under standard management protocols. The parameters under investigation were production performance, organ development, components of the intestinal barrier, and ileal microbial count. Two hundred and forty day-old chicks were raised in five groups, with each group containing eight replicates (n=6/replicate). The control group received a basal diet whereas the other four groups received basal diets supplemented with SeNPs (0.5 mg/kg), COS (200 mg/kg), SeNPs+COS (0.5 mg/kg SeNPs + 200 mg/kg COS), and SeNPs-loaded COS (SeNPs-L-COS) (200 mg/kg) respectively. On day 35, two birds/replicate were sampled to collect the viscera under investigation. The results revealed that dietary inclusion of SeNPs-L-COS increased (p<0.05) the body weight gain and improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio. Similarly, SeNPs-L-COS supplementation increased (p<0.05) the small intestinal villus surface area as well as the count of acidic goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes when compared with the control group. Whereas the total goblet cell count was higher (p<0.05) in the small intestines of both the SeNPs+COS and SeNPs-L-COS groups. Microbial analysis of ileal contents also revealed an increase (p<0.05) in Lactobacilli species count with a concurrent decrease (p<0.05) in Escherichia coli count in the SeNPs-L-COS group when compared with the COS and control groups. Based on the results of the current trial, we can conclude that supplementation with SeNPs-L-COS is a superior combination for promoting the gut health and performance of broilers.