Comparison of crop and weed height,for potential differentiation of weed patches at harvest

Weeds and weed control are major production costs in global agriculture, with increasing challenges associated with herbicide‐based management because of concerns with chemical residue and herbicide resistance. Non‐chemical weed management may address these challenges but requires the ability to differentiate weeds from crops. Harvest is an ideal opportunity for the differentiation of weeds that grow taller than the crop, however, the ability to differentiate late‐season weeds from the crop is unknown. Weed mapping enables farmers to locate weed patches, evaluate the success of previous weed management strategies, and assist with planning for future herbicide applications. The aim of this study was to determine whether weed patches could be differentiated from the crop plants, based on height differences. Field surveys were carried out before crop harvest in 2018 and 2019, where a total of 86 and 105 weedy patches were manually assessed respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that across the 191 assessed weedy patches, in 97% of patches with Avena fatua (wild oat) plants, 86% with Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) plants and 92% with Sonchus oleraceus L. (sow thistles) plants it was possible to distinguish the weeds taller than the 95% of the crop plants. Future work should be dedicated to the assessment of the ability of remote sensing methods such as Light Detection and Ranging to detect and map late‐season weed species based on the results from this study on crop and weed height differences.     

Use of additives to capture nitrogen in ammoniated wheat straw: Intake, ruminal parameters, digestibility and nitrogen utilization in buffaloes

This study examined the influence of urea treated wheat straw (UTWS) ensiled with additives on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal characteristics and N utilization in Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (Babulus bubalis) fed ad libitum. Wheat straw was treated on large scale with 4% urea at a 50% moisture level. The UTWS was ensiled with 6% CSL, 6% acidified molasses, 2% acetic acid and 2% formic acid on DM basis in four different cemented trench silos for 15 days. Four diets each having 50% dry matter (DM) from UTWS ensiled with acetic acid (AD), formic acid (FD), acidified molasses (MD) or corn steep liquor (CD) and 50% DM from concentrate mixture were fed to ruminally cannulated bulls in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Ruminal total VFA, acetate, cellulolytic ruminal bacterial count, DM and NDF degradability were significantly higher with MD and CD diets compared with AD and FD diets. Intake of different feed fractions was higher in bulls fed MD and CD diets. Total tract apparent digestibility of nutrients was similar across all treatments. Nitrogen retention was higher in bulls fed MD and CD diets than those fed AD and FD diets. Ensiling UTWS with fermentable carbohydrates sources having low pH compared to organic acids increased the N fixation in the matrix of cell wall fiber thus slowing its release at ruminal level that probably enhanced the N synchronization with carbon skeleton (fiber fermentation) and this consequently improved the N utilization.     

Impact of a biochar or a biochar-compost mixture on water relation, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis of Phragmites karka

Soil water and nutrient status are both of major importance for plant appearance and growth performance. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of biochar (1.5%) and a biochar-compost mixture (1.5% biochar + 1.5% compost) on the performance of Phragmites karka plants grown on a synthetic nutrient-poor sandy clay soil (50% sand, 30% clay, and 20% gravel). Indicators of plant performance, such as growth, lignocellulosic biomass, water status (leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potential), mineral nutrition status, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence, and soil respiration (carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux) were assessed under greenhouse conditions. Biochar-treated plants had higher growth rates and lignocellulosic biomass production than control plants with no biochar and no compost. There was also a significant increase in soil respiration in the treatments with biochar, which stimulated microbial interactions. The increase in soil water-holding capacity after biochar amendment caused significant improvements in plant water status and plant ion (K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) contents, leading to an increase in net photosynthesis and a higher energy-use efficiency of photosystem II. Biochar-treated plants had lower oxidative stress, increased water-use efficiency, and decreased soil respiration, and the biochar-compost mixture resulted in even greater improvements in growth, leaf turgor potential, photosynthesis, nutrient content, and soil gas exchange. Our results suggest that biochar and compost promote plant growth with respect to nutrient uptake, water balance, and photosynthetic system efficiency. In summary, both the soil amendments studied could increase opportunities for P. karka to sequester CO₂ and produce more fodder bio-active compounds and biomass for bio-energy on nutrient-poor degraded soils.     

Detrimental effects of pharmaceutical industrial waste on microorganisms

Pharmaceutical industrial waste was collected from Ghaziabad (Cooper Pharma Ltd.) and analyzed for color, odor, specific gravity, turbidity, pH, total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, volatile solids, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), organic and inorganic nitrogen, sulfur, chlorides, sulfates and phosphates. The detrimental effects of industrial waste on microorganisms were studied in the system with lower and higher volumes of the wastes (0.5–12 ml) using glucose substrate as a source of carbon for microorganisms. The cultures of saprophytic and nitrifying bacteria were grown from sewage and pea gravel, respectively, and tested for their nature.     

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

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.     

Acute toxicity of chrome electroplating wastes to microorganisms: adsorption of chromate and chromium(VI) on a mixture of clay and sand

Chrome electroplating wastes were collected from two industrial sites and analyzed for color, turbidity, pH, alkalinity, sulfate, chloride, N-ammonia, N-nitrate, N-nitrite, acid hydrolyzable P, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, chromate and chromium(VI). The effect of these wastes on saprophytic and nitrifying bacteria was studied with varying concentrations of the waste using sucrose substrate as a source of C chain for microorganisms. The use of clay sand mixtures as adsorbents for chromate and chromium(VI) was investigated. Mixtures high in clay content were found to be suitable media for the removal of Cr from the wastes. The clay used was characterized by determination of the following parameters: pH, electrical conductivity, water soluble salts, osmotic pressure, cation exchange capacity, CaCO₃ and organic matter.     

Comparative study of chloride,calcium, magnesium,potassium, and sodium content of seeds in temperate and tropical halophytes

The seeds of forbs, grass, and woody halophytes were collected from a cool moist temperate habitat of North America and subtropical maritime desert conditions of Karachi, Pakistan. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride concentrations as well as total ash content were determined. Ion concentrations of seeds are expressed both as relative values and on a dry weight basis. Plants were found to vary in the total ash content of seeds and the relative distribution of ions. In general, temperate forbs and grasses had lower ion content of seeds and several tropical shrub species had the highest ionic content.     

Some aspects of salinity,plant density,and nutrient effects on Cressa cretica L.

The effects of salinity, density, and nutrient on the growth, reproduction, and ecophysiology of a perennial halophyte, Cressa cretica L., were studied. Lower salinity concentration (425 mM) promoted the growth, but the highest salinity (850 mM) did not have a significant effect. Plants grew faster and were healthier at low density treatment. Lack of nitrogen (N) in the medium substantially inhibited shoot growth. Higher rhizome length and increased dry weight were some of the symptoms of N‐deficiency. Phosphorus (P)‐free plants also showed higher dry weight and higher ratio of rhizomes to shoots. Reproductive capacity of Cressa cretica plants was not affected by the absence of P. Growth and reproduction of Cressa cretica plants were significantly inhibited by potassium (K) deficiency. Optimal plant growth was recorded in complete nutrient solution. Higher concentrations of oxalate were found in plants growing under low density conditions and in non‐saline controls. Proline concentration increased with the increase in salinity of the medium. Chlorophyll a and b synthesis were inhibited by high salinity treatments whereas changes in density regimes did not have an effect.     

Zinc and Boron Application at Different Phenological Stages Alleviates Tree Growth,Fruit Yield and Quality of Sweet Orange Cv. ‘Blood Red’

The deficiency of micronutrients, particularly zinc (Zn) and boron (B) has affected vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of sweet orange in many citrus growing areas of Pakistan. The present study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to determine the impact of Zn and B supplementation on growth and quality of sweet orange cv. ‘Blood red’. Pre-harvest foliar application of variant Zn and B levels was done at different phenological stages of fruit growth and development, i.e., full bloom, fruit set and premature stage. Results have concluded that pre-harvest foliar application of Zn and B augmented phosphorous, Zn, B, potassium, iron, and manganese contents in leaves, particularly Zn and B content from deficient to optimal level. Moreover, the combined application of Zn and B has also significantly enhanced vegetative characters such as tree height and spread along with reproductive characters, i.e., incremented numbers of fruit, fruit weight, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid contents. However, among stage comparison, outcomes depicted that foliar application of Zn and B at full bloom?+?fruit set?+?premature stage resulted in maximum production with high quality fruits.