Abstract The highly selective, sensitive, and quick interference green synthesis-based sensing of possible milk adulterants i.e., salicylic acid has been reported here. Salicylic acid interacts with nanoparticles through strong bonding interactions, hence resulting in an interruption within the formation of selenium nanoparticles which is confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. This interaction in the synthesis of nanoparticles resulted in transmittance wavelength that decrease with the increasing amount of salicylic acid, showing strong binding of selenium nanoparticles with adulterant thereby permitting in-situ fast detection of salicylic acid from milk having a limit of detection at 10-3 mol and linear coefficient correlation of 0.9907.

Abstract An investigation was conducted to extract polyphenols from moringa leaf, tamarind seed, mint and lemongrass for the development of functional date bars. Solvent methanol, ethanol and acetone at 50% and 75% concentration was employed for polyphenols extraction through ultrasound assisted extraction technique.Higher polyphenols and flavonoids were extracted from moringa leaf with comparatively more antioxidant activity than other herbs studied. Date bars fortified with different levels of moringa leaf and tamarind seedpolyphenolic extracts had optimum quality attributes and antioxidant activity as well assensory acceptable. Overall, 2% moringa leaf extract fortified date bars scored highest and were appreciated most by sensory panelists whereas 3% tamarind seed extract fortified date bars scored lowest and were disliked most. It was concluded that moringa leaf and tamarind seed extract being a potential source of polyphenols could be developed as ingredient for the preparation of functional foods.

Abstract An investigation was carried out to extract polyphenols from mango and kinnow mandarin peels for the development of functional fruit bars and their storage stability. Solvent ethanol at 50%, 80% and 100% concentration was employed for polyphenols extraction from mango and kinnow peels through ultrasound assisted extraction technique. Higher polyphenols were extracted from mango peels with comparatively more antioxidant activity than kinnow peels. Fruit bars fortified with different levels of mango and kinnow peel polyphenolic extracts subjected to ambient and refrigerated storage conditions revealed a gradual decline in total polyphenols, antioxidant activity and sensory attributes score during storage period. Microbiological parameters though increased during storage but remained well within the permissible limits. Ambient temperature storage fruit bars were discarded after three months whereas at refrigeration temperature conditions remained sensory acceptable for five months. Overall, 2% mango peel extract fortified fruit bars scored highest by the sensory panelists while 3% kinnow peel extract fortified fruit bars scored lowest. It was concluded that mango and kinnow peel extract could be utilized as ingredient for the preparation of functionl foods.

Abstract Background: Thermal weed control is a viable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly emerging alternative to highly challenged and unsustainable chemical weed control. Objective: To find out the most suitable pre-sowing soil solarization durations for effective weed control and soil fertility enhancement in sesame crop. Methods: A field study was conducted during the summer season of 2016 and 2017. Different soil solarization treatments were applied, including 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks before sowing (WBS) of sesame by spreading transparent polythene sheets. Results: The temperatures of solarized soil at 10 cm depth were 8-10 oC more than the control. The soil NPK and organic matter contents were gradually increased with increasing solarization durations. The highest soil nitrogen (0.71%), phosphorus (9.63 ppm), K (166.2 ppm), and organic matter content (1.12%) were observed with the longest soil solarization for 12 WBS. Different solarization durations provided 23 to 64% weed control efficiency and up to a 34% rise in sesame yield. Conclusions: Based on the current findings, soil solarization for 12 WBS by polythene sheets is an effective alternative to the chemical weed control method with additional positive effects on soil fertility and sesame yield.

Abstract Background: Waste-land weeds present around the fields exert their allelopathic influence on crops through their leaf leachates and rhizospheric soils. Objective: A study was conducted to investigate the phytotoxic action of four common waste-land weeds Parthenium hysterophorus L., Achyranthes aspera L., Lantana camara L. and Withania somnifera L. through their aqueous extracts and rhizospheric soils against winter crops Avena sativa L., Cicer arietinum L., Hordeum vulgare L. and Triticum aestivum L. Methods: Experiments were conducted in Agronomy laboratory in College of Agriculture at the University of Sargodha. In first experiment, 5% (w/v) water extract from entire plant of each weed was applied to germinating seeds of crops whereas in second experiment, crop seeds were subjected to the rhizospheric soil of each weed for germination test. Results: Results revealed that aqueous extracts of weeds were more phyto-inhibitory compared to their rhizospheric soils. Minimum germination percentage (42.5%), germination index (7.4), seedling vigor index (665.3), root length (3.27 cm), seedling length (14.15 cm) and seedling biomass (74.2 mg) of crops were recorded in response to aqueous extract of P. hysterophorus. Root growth of the crops was affected more compared to the shoot growth. Minimum germination percentage was observed in A. sativa (13.3) by the action of L. camara aqueous extract. Rhizospheric soil of L. camara and P. hysterophorus resulted in minimum germination percentages (57.5 and 58.3, respectively) and seedling vigor indices (1472.5 and 2008.4, respectively) of crops. The lowest germination (30%) and germination index (3.7) was observed for T. aestivum seeds germinated in the rhizospheric soil of W. somnifera. Among crops, A. sativa and C. arietinum were more susceptible to the aqueous extracts whereas T. aestivum to rhizospheric soils of weeds. Conclusions: It can be concluded that waste-land weeds especially P. hysterophorus and L. camara negatively affect the crops by their allelopathy.

Abstract Background: Parthenium hysterophorus L., commonly known as parthenium weed, poses severe economic and environmental hazards to the agro-ecosystems of Pakistan. Objective: To estimate the yield loss and critical competition period of this weed in the spring sown maize crop. Method: Field studies were conducted at an agronomic research area in the College of Agriculture at the University of Sargodha in Punjab-Pakistan during two consecutive year spring seasons (2014 and 2015). Treatments were comprised of viz., control plots (weed free), and parthenium competition durations of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks after crop emergence (WAE), as well as weedy check for the full growing season of the crop. Results: Study results showed that the prolongation in parthenium competition duration from 2 WAE to the full crop season resulted in an increase in dry weight up to 541% and 450% in the years 2014 and 2015, respectively. Plant height, stem diameter, biological yield, 1000 grain weight and grain yield decreased significantly at 2 or more WAE parthenium competition periods. The maximum reduction in plant height (8.8 and 11.3%), stem diameter (30.6 and 12.7%), cob number m-2 (35.8 and 33.9%), grain rows cob-1 (26.6 and 29.4%), 1000 grain weight (15 and 9.8%), grain (34.1 and 39.1%) and biological yield (31.4 and 27.9%) were recorded with the longest parthenium competition duration (6 WAE) during the years 2014 and 2015, respectively. Conclusion: Based upon the results above, it is concluded that the critical competition period of parthenium in spring maize, as determined by a three-parameter logistic model, is 17 to 28 and 16 to 26 days after crop emergence during the years 2014 and 2015, respectively. Therefore, this weed must be controlled during these periods in order to avoid significant grain yield loss.

Finding more efficient ways to fertilize crops will reduce N losses and increase nutrient uptake. A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2006 and repeated in 2007. The crop was planted in three different geometrical arrangements, viz. flat sowing (rows spaced 75 cm), ridge sowing (ridges spaced 75 cm), and strip planting (double row strips spaced 120 cm with 30 cm between rows in a strip); NPK was applied in four different combinations (0-0-0 control, 200-100-100 low dose,250-125-125 medium dose, and 300-150-150 high dose kg ha-1). Both fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and N use efficiency (NUE) were significantly lower with the high fertilizer dose (300-150-150 kg NPK ha-1) than with the low or medium doses. The highest nitrogen uptake efficiency was with the medium fertilizer dose and proved to be a good indicator of grain yield. Among planting methods, ridge plantation resulted in higher FUE, NUE, and N uptake efficiency. The highest grain yield, net income, and benefit cost ratio were recorded when a crop was planted on ridges with the medium fertilizer dose. Sowing methods did not significantly affect grain quality parameters. Seed oil, protein, and starch contents were the lowest in the control. Thereafter, seed oil contents continued to decrease, while seed protein and seed starch increased with each NPK fertilizer increment.

Encontrando maneras más eficientes para fertilizar los cultivos se reducirán las pérdidas de N y aumentará la absorción de nutrientes. Un experimento de campo se llevó a cabo en la Granja de Investigación Agronómica de la Universidad de Agricultura, Faisalabad, Pakistán, durante 2006 y 2007. El cultivo fue sembrado en tres modalidades geométricas diferentes: siembra plana (filas separadas 75 cm), siembra en camellones (camellones separados 75 cm), y plantación en hileras (franjas de doble hilera separadas por 120 cm con espacio de 30 cm entre las hileras de una franja) y cuatro combinaciones de NPK (control 0-0-0; dosis baja 200-100-100; dosis media 250-125-125, y dosis alta 300-150-150 kg ha-1). La eficiencia de uso de fertilizantes (FUE), así como la eficiencia del uso del N (NUE) fue significativamente menor con la dosis más alta de fertilizante (300-150-150) que con las dosis baja o media. Eficiencia de absorción de N fue mayor con la dosis fertilizante media y demostró ser un buen indicador del rendimiento de grano. Entre los métodos de siembra, plantación en camellones resultó en una mayor extracción de unidades foliculares, NUE, y la eficiencia de absorción de N. El mayor rendimiento de grano, la utilidad neta y la relación costo-beneficio se registraron en el cultivo sembrado en camellones con dosis media de fertilizante. Métodos de siembra no afectaron significativamente los parámetros de calidad del grano. Contenido de aceite de semillas, proteína y almidón fueron los más bajos con el control. A partir de entonces, el contenido de aceite de semilla continuó disminuyendo, mientras que la proteína y el almidón de semillas aumentaron con cada incremento de fertilizantes NPK.

Weed management programs should focus on environmental safety along with benefits to the farmer. We evaluated the effects of various weed control methods: ’daab’ practice (stale seed bed technique), manual hoeing, and the chemical method (mixture of Buctril Super 60EC [bromoxynil + MCPA]0.45 kg ai ha-1 and Puma Super 75EW [fenoxaprop-P-ethyl] 0.75 kg ai ha-1) in combination with different planting geometries: 22.5 cm apart single row, 22.5 cm apart crisscross double row, 30 cm apart single row and broadcast sowings on weed control and grain yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) var. Sehar 2006 at the University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, during the winters of 2009 and 2010. The chemical method, manual hoeing and ’daab’ practice gave 71.44%, 30.69% and 28.60% weed controls resulting in 11.79%, 11.09% and 4.95% increases in grain yield above that of the weedy control, respectively. The 22.5 cm apart single row sowing in combination with chemical weed control proved to be the best regarding weed control (87.23%), grain yield ( ha-1) and number of fertile tillers m-2 (509.5), whereas wheat plant height (108.2 cm), number of grains spike-1 (45.90) and 1000 grain weight (45.23 g) were higher in 30 cm apart single row sowing in interaction with manual hoeing. Grain yield showed a significant negative (b = -152.8) and positive (b = 3.21) correlation with weed biomass and fertile tillers m-2, respectively. Chemical weed control, ’daab’ practice and manual hoeing gave cost:benefit ratios of 2.50, 1.95 and 1.14, respectively. Although the chemical method seems the most profitable, the ’daab’ practice was found to be the most advantageous if environmental concerns were taken into consideration.

El programa de manejo de malezas también debe centrarse en la seguridad del medio ambiente junto con el beneficio de agricultores. Se evaluó el efecto de diferentes métodos de control de malezas, es decir, la práctica ’daab’ (técnica de la falsa cama de la semilla), azada manual, y el método químico (Buctril Super 60EC [bromoxinil + MCPA] 0,45 kg ia ha-1 y Super Puma 75EW [fenoxaprop-P-etil] 0,75 kg ia ha-1) en combinación con la plantación en diferentes geometrías: 22,5 cm de distancia en una hilera, 22,5 cm dos hileras entrecruzadas, 30 cm de separación en una hilera, y siembras al voleo sobre el control de malezas y el rendimiento de grano de trigo de primavera (Triticum aestivum L.) var. Sehar 2006 de la University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistán, durante los inviernos de 2009 y 2010. Método químico, azada manual y la práctica ’daab’ dieron 71,44%, 30,69% y 28,60% de control de malezas que resultaron en aumentos de 11,79%, 11,09% y 4,95% en rendimiento de grano sobre el control con maleza, respectivamente. La distancia de siembra de 22,5 cm en una hilera, en combinación con el control de malezas químico fue el mejor control de malezas (87,23%) en relación con el rendimiento de grano (4073 kg ha-1) y el número de macollos fértiles m-2 (509,5), mientras que la altura de planta de trigo (108,2 cm), número de granos por espiga (45,90) y peso de 1000 granos (45,23 g) se mantuvieron más altos en siembra a 30 cm de distancia en una fila en interacción con escarda manual. El rendimiento de grano mostró una correlación significativa negativa (b = -152,8) y positiva (b = 3,21) con la biomasa de las malezas y tallos fértiles de 2 m, respectivamente. El control químico de malezas, la práctica ’daab’ y escarda manual dieron relaciones costo:beneficio de 2,50; 1,95 y 1,14, respectivamente. Aunque el método químico parece más rentable, pero al mismo tiempo teniendo en cuenta las preocupaciones ambientales, la práctica ’daab’ fue más ventajosa.