Changes in hydraulic performance and comparative costs of lining and desilting of secondary canals in Punjab,Pakistan

Observations on the hydraulic changes of lining of secondary canals in Punjab, Pakistan show that performance improvement objectives are not always achieved. If lining is justified on the basis of water savings through reduced seepage losses, then tail end areas should receive improved water deliveries. Observations in two distributary canals following lining do not demonstrate significant improvements in tail end conditions. Justification of lining on the basis of more stable water conditions is also hard to identify; reduction in the variability of discharges was not observed.Financial analysis of a recent canal lining experience in Punjab indicates that water savings would have to be unrealistically high, and sustained for long periods, if the initial capital cost is to be repaid through improved water conveyance efficiency. Furthermore, the hydraulic improvements achieved through alternative interventions appear to strengthen the argument that lining can be justified only under special conditions, rather than adopted as a wholesale approach to solving water distribution problems. Whatever the intervention, management control must be strengthened; lining is not a substitute for effective canal operational and maintenance inputs.     

Comparison of Kinetic Models for Boron Adsorption in Alluvium‐Derived Soils of Punjab,India

Abstract

The understanding of the boron (B) adsorption mechanism on soil materials is vital because plants respond primarily to the B activity in soil solution. Batch studies were conducted to investigate the adsorption behavior of B in 21 surface soils representing major soil series of Punjab. The soils varied widely in their properties. Six mathematical models (viz., zero order, first order, second order, Elovich, power function, and parabolic diffusion) were used to describe B adsorption. The B adsorption pattern was characterized by an initial fast reaction followed by a slow process, and it was complete in 24 h of equilibrium. The B equilibrium concentration was negatively correlated with clay content (r=?0.911**), organic carbon (OC) (?0.541*), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (?0.540*) and positively with sand content (r=0.706**). The Elovich equation was best to describe the rate of B adsorption followed by the power function.     

Spatial seroepidemiology,risk assessment and haemato-biochemical implications of bovine trypanosomiasis in low lying areas of Punjab,India

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 594 bovines (341 buffalo adults, 31 buffalo calves, 163 cattle adults, and 59 cattle calves) to assess the exposure of native bovine population to T. evansi elicited trypanosomiasis in the low-lying areas of Punjab (India). We ruled out the endemicity of the disease with 10.77% (95%CI = 8.53–13.52) sero-positive and 23.56% (95%CI = 20.33–27.15) suspected cases by card agglutination assay. We have presented the spatial distribution of these cases as a guideline to local veterinary practitioners and policy-makers. The categorical assessment of risk factors revealed buffalo adults are the most susceptible group in the state despite insignificant differences in farm management practices. A significant increase in the WBC, platelet, AST and serum iron, and decrease in haemoglobin, haematocrit volume, and serum glucose was recorded in both T. evansi positive and suspected animals.     

Salinization,alkalinization and sodification in Punjab (Pakistan): characterization of the geochemical and physical processes of degradation

Evidence of soil degradation impeding soil tillage and irrigation in cultivated soils in Pakistan is identified, described and represented in a general process of degradation. Based on a chemical analysis of soil characteristics, it is shown that a more general geochemical degradation process may occur in these soils. Two paths of salinization, i.e. neutral salinization and alkalinization inducing a process of sodification, are identified. The wide range of chemical properties of soils and corresponding geochemical processes can be explained by the great diversity of quality in irrigation water that is taken either from the canal or from the groundwater. The basic module of a geochemical model AQUA (Vallès and DeCockborne, 1992) is calibrated with the help of a study of the soil geochemical properties (identification of minerals, characterization of exchanges) and then used to assess the effect of four different water qualities on sandy and loamy soils. Based on these scenarios, the salinity, alkalinity and sodicity hazard of irrigation water is assessed by taking into account simultaneously the electrical conductivity and the residual alkalinity (calcite-residual alkalinity, residual sodium carbonates) or irrigation water and the soil cation exchange capacity: these three indicators appear the most relevant in the context of the study. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depth Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions in Relation to Tillage and Cropping Sequences in Some Dry Lands of Punjab,Pakistan

Depth distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions depends on the efficiency of agro‐technical managements. Information on depth distribution of SOC fractions mostly confined to the plow layer and scant in dry lands of Punjab, Pakistan. Therefore, a field experiment was laid out with moldboard plow (MP) (control), tine cultivator (TC), and minimum tillage (MT) as main plots, and cropping sequences fallow wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), (FW, control), mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) wheat (MW), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) wheat (SW), green manure wheat (GW), and mungbean‐chickpea (MC) (Cicer arietinum L.) as sub‐plots. Treatment effects were assessed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC), potentially mineralizeable carbon (PMC), particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), HCl insoluble carbon (HIC), and stratification ratio (SR) in Rawal series: Udic Haplustalf. Alfisols. The MBC concentration was the highest in MT system, at 15 to 30‐cm depth under MW and PMC concentration was highest under SW with MT at 45–60 cm. MP had higher POC in FW sequence. The highest DOC was at 0 to 15‐cm depth under MC with TC and stock of HIC was more under TC with FW sequence. The highest SR of PMC was under MT with FW at 0–15:15–30 and POC was under TC and MP with FW at depths of 0–15:45–60 cm. The highest SR for DOC was under MP with GW at 0–15:45–60 cm and HCl insoluble C was under MT with SW at 0–15:45–60. In broad‐spectrum, labile organic fractions revealed differential sensitivity, and POC stocks are also a sensitive indicator to detect the short‐management effects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bovine fasciolosis: Prevalence, effects of treatment on productivity and cost benefit analysis in five districts of Punjab, Pakistan

The present study reports the prevalence, effects of treatment and cost benefit analysis of bovine fasciolosis in five districts of Punjab Province viz Sargodha, Jhang, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran and Layyah. From each of the five districts, 80 animals were selected and fortnightly screened through standard coprological procedures for a period of one year for the presence of eggs of Fasciola species. Of 4800 faecal samples analyzed, 1222 (25.46%) were found positive for fasciolosis. The occurrence of Fasciola (F.) gigantica (22.40%) was higher (P < 0.05) than F. hepatica (3.06%). Highest month-wise prevalence (P < 0.05) of fasciolosis was found in winter (39.08%) followed in decreasing order by spring (29.50%), autumn (20.33%) and summer (12.92%). District-wise prevalence of fasciolosis was highest (P < 0.05) in Sargodha (40.31%) and lowest in Layyah (11.77%) while other districts were having intermediate values of prevalence of fasciolosis. Species-wise prevalence of fasciolosis was found higher (P < 0.05) in buffaloes (30.50%) as compared to cattle (20.42%). However, there were no age and sex-related differences (P > 0.05) in prevalence of fasciolosis. A strong positive association of grazing (OR = 1.81), mixed farming of small and large ruminants (OR = 1.39), stagnant pond bathing (OR = 2.24) and river/canal bathing (OR = 2.06) was found with the prevalence of fasciolosis as compared to stall feeding, separate farming of small and large ruminants and rivers/canal/ tap water bathing, respectively. Post-treatment average milk increase of 0.62 L per animal per day with 0.35% higher fat was observed in fasciolicide-treated animals with the cost benefit ratio of 3.9. The results provided significant data on the epidemiology of five districts of Punjab province which may be helpful for the planners and small holder dairy farmers for control of fasciolosis in the study districts.     

Effects of sowing date, tillage and residue management on productivity of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in northwest India

In southwestern region of Punjab in north India, sowing dates of cotton crop in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system are staggered from last week of April to mid of May depending upon the surface water supply from canal as ground water is not fit for irrigation. Further, farmers practice intensive cultivation for seedbed preparation and burning of wheat straw before sowing of cotton crop. With the present farmers’ practices, yields have become static and system has become non-profitable. Field experiments were conducted on Entisols for two rotations of cotton–wheat system during the years of 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 in split plot design to study the direct and interactive effects of date of sowing and tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices on growth and yield of cotton and wheat and to increase the profitability by reducing the tillage operations, which costs about 50% of the sowing cost. The pooled analysis showed that in cotton crop, there was a significant interaction between year × dates of sowing. Among different tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices yields were 23–39% higher in tillage treatments than minimum-tillage. In wheat, grain yield in tillage treatments were at par. Water productivity amongst the tillage treatments in cotton was 19–27% less in minimum tillage than others tillage treatments. Similar trend was found in wheat crop. Remunerability of the cotton–wheat system was more with a combination of reduced tillage in cotton and minimum tillage in wheat than conventional tillage.     

Seroepidemiology and molecular characterization of hepatitis E virus infection in swine and occupationally exposed workers in Punjab,India

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has two discrete epidemiological patterns: waterborne epidemics in developing countries only, caused by HEV genotype I, and sporadic zoonotic outbreaks in developing and developed countries caused by genotypes III and IV. This study was designed to investigate seroprevalence, molecular detection and the characterization of HEV by nested RT‐PCR in swine as well as the occupational risk to exposed human population in Punjab state of north‐western India. The occupational risk‐exposed group comprised of swine farmers (organized – mixed feed feeders and unorganized – swill feeders), slaughterhouse workers, sewage workers and veterinary internes. During the study period, blood and faecal samples were collected from 320 swine and 360 humans with both high and low occupational exposure risks. The overall seroprevalence of swine HEV was 65.00%, with a significantly higher seropositivity in growing pigs (2–8 months of age). The prevalence of HEV RNA in swine faecal samples by nRT‐PCR was 8.75% with a significantly higher detection in swill‐fed pigs. With humans in the high occupational exposure risk population, significantly higher anti‐HEV IgG seropositivity was observed (60.48%) as compared to control population (10.71%). Strong evidence of association between human anti‐HEV IgG seropositivity and certain occupational exposure risk groups was observed (p < 0.05). This indicates that unorganized swine farmers, slaughterhouse workers and sewage workers have higher odds of HEV infection in this study region. Percentage of nucleotide similarity between swine and human HEV isolates was less than that found in countries with zoonotic HEV outbreaks. Molecular characterization revealed the circulation of G IV and G I genotypes among swine and human population in Punjab state, respectively.     

Factors influencing hybrid maize farmers' risk attitudes and their perceptions in Punjab Province,Pakistan

Hybrid maize farmers have to face diverse kinds of climate, biological, price and financial risks. Farmers' risk perceptions and risk attitudes are essential elements influencing farm operations and management decisions. However, this important issue has been overlooked in the contemporary studies and therefore there is a dearth of literature on this important issue. The present research is therefore, an attempt to fill this gap. This study aims to quantify hybrid maize farmers' perceptions of disastrous risks, their attitudes towards risk and to explore the impacts of various farm and farm household factors on farmers' risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The present study is conducted in four hybrid maize growing districts of Punjab Province, Pakistan, using cross-sectional data of 400 hybrid maize farmers. Risk matrix and equally likely certainty equivalent (ELCE) method are used to rank farmers' perceptions of four catastrophic risk sources including climate, biological, price and financial risks and to investigate farmers' risk aversion attitudes, respectively. Furthermore, probit regression is used to analyze the determinants affecting farmers' risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The results of the study showed that majority of farmers are risk averse in nature and perceive price, biological and climate to be potential sources of risks to their farm enterprise. In addition, analysis divulges that distance from farm to main market, off-farm income, location dummies for Sahiwal and Okara, age, maize farming experience, access to extension agent, significantly (either negatively or positively) influence farmers' risk attitudes and risk perceptions. The study delivers valuable insights for farmers, agricultural insurance sector, extension services researchers and agricultural policy makers about the local understanding of risks to hybrid maize crop in developing countries, like Pakistan, and have implications for research on farmers' adaptation to exposed risks.