RESUMO: Experimentos de campo foram conduzidos durante dois anos para investigar a fitotoxicidade da algaroba (Prosopis juliflora) no controle de plantas daninhas e no rendimento do trigo nos períodos de 2013-14 e 2014-15. Foram preparados extratos aquosos de folhas, caules e raízes de algaroba com concentração de 10, 20, 30 e 40%, os quais foram comparados com água corrente (controle). Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos completamente casualizados com quatro repetições. Todos os parâmetros (densidade de plantas daninhas, biomassa fresca das plantas daninhas, biomassa seca das plantas daninhas, teor de clorofila, índice de área foliar, duração de área foliar, taxa de crescimento da cultura, taxa de assimilação líquida, altura da planta e número de perfilhos) sofreram redução significativa pela aplicação dos extratos de algaroba. Entre as diferentes concentrações, o nível máximo (40%) das três partes das plantas da algaroba reduziu os parâmetros do estudo, incluindo densidade das plantas daninhas, biomassa fresca e seca das plantas daninhas, índice de área foliar, duração da área foliar, taxa de crescimento da cultura, taxa de assimilação líquida, teores de clorofila, altura das plantas, número de perfilhos, comprimento da espiga, número de grãos, peso de mil grãos, rendimento de grãos, rendimento biológico, índice de colheita e teor de proteína do grão. Com base nos resultados, conclui-se que os extratos aquosos da algaroba são capazes de conter muitas substâncias fitotóxicas que podem exercer efeito negativo no crescimento e no rendimento das culturas agrícolas. Por essa razão, o trigo não deve ser plantado perto da algaroba.

ABSTRACT: Two-year field experiments were conducted to investigate the phytotoxicity of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) on weed control and yield of wheat in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Mesquite aqueous extracts were prepared with 10, 20, 30 and 40% concentration of leaves, stems, and roots and were compared with tap water (control). These experiments were laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications. All parameters (weed density, fresh weed biomass, dry weed biomass, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, plant height and number of tillers) were significantly reduced by applying the mesquite extracts. Among different concentrations, the maximum level (40%) of all three plant parts of mesquite subsequently reduced the study parameters including weed density, fresh and dry weed biomass, leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, chlorophyll contents, plant height, number of tillers, spike length, number of grains, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index and grain protein content. On the basis of the results, it is concluded that aqueous extracts of mesquite may contain many phytotoxic substances which can negatively affect the growth and yield of agricultural crops; therefore, wheat should not be planted close to mesquite.

RESUMO: O presente estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de investigar os efeitos fitotóxicos de diferentes concentrações de extratos aquosos de folhas, caules e raízes da bombardeira (Calotropis procera) na Área de Pesquisa Agronômica do Departamento de Agronomia, Faculdade de Agricultura, Universidade de Gomal, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Paquistão, durante os períodos de 2013-14 e 2014-15. Os tratamentos consistiram de diferentes concentrações de extratos aquosos de folhas, caule e raízes (10, 20, 30 e 40%) da bombardeira, que foram comparadas com água encanada (controle). Os resultados mostraram que a redução de todos os parâmetros estudados, incluindo ervas daninhas e crescimento e rendimento do trigo, foi proporcional à concentração dos extratos aquosos de bombardeira utilizados. O nível de inibição foi dependente da concentração, pois a inibição aumentou com o aumento na concentração de extratos aquosos de todas as três partes vegetais da bombardeira. Portanto, a aplicação da concentração máxima (40%) de extratos aquosos de folhas, caule e raiz reduziu proporcionalmente todos os parâmetros estudados. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que Calotropis procera deve ser removida perto dos campos de cultivo por conter algumas substâncias fitotóxicas que podem ser lixiviadas pelas raízes e causar sérios prejuízos aos produtores e às espécies em cultivo.

ABSTRACT: The present research work was undertaken to find out the phytotoxic effects of different concentrations of aqueous extracts of leaves, stems and root of milkweed (Calotropis procera) in the Agronomic Research Area of Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The treatments consisted of different concentrations of aqueous leaf, stem and root extracts (10, 20, 30 and 40%) of milkweed, which were compared with tap water (control). The results showed that the reduction of all studied parameters, including weeds, growth and yield of wheat was proportional to the concentration of aqueous extracts of milkweed in use. The level of inhibition was concentration-dependent as inhibition increased with an increase in the concentration of aqueous extracts of all three plant parts of milkweed. Therefore, application of maximum concentration (40%) of aqueous leaf, stem and root extracts correspondingly reduced all the studied parameters. On the basis of the findings, it is concluded that the Calotropis procera should be removed near the cultivating wheat fields because it contains some phytotoxic substances, which may be leached out by the roots and cause serious losses to the growers and crop species.

The purpose of this trial was to examine the possible effects of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on semen quality, hematological variables and serum testosterone concentration in Nili Ravi buffalo. Bulls of the treatment group (n=3) were injected with recombinant GH 500 mg in a 15 day interval for 10 consecutive weeks, while bulls of control group (n=3) received equal volume of normal saline solution. Semen samples were collected twice per week and analyzed for physiological parameters. Blood samples collected fortnightly were analyzed for red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, and serum testosterone levels. Data were analyzed statistically using t-test. Results indicated that GH treatment of Nili-Ravi buffaloes significantly (p<0.05) increased ejaculatory volume (8.8±0.2 vs 7.7±0.2 ml), sperm motility (72.6±0.4 vs 67.4±0.7), mass activity (3.35±0.07 vs 2.52±0.08), sperm concentration (982.2±67.8 vs 731.9±50.5 million/ ml), live sperm (80.1±0.3 vs 75.8±0.5) and serum testosterone (4.02±0.21 vs 2.37±0.07 ng/ml) compared to control bulls. Among hematological variables, lymphocytes were increased (p<0.05), but MCV, WBC count, and neutrophils decreased (p<0.05). Hb, RBC and PCV remained unchanged. However, values of these variables were within normal ranges for buffalo bulls. In conclusion, treatment of Nili-Ravi bulls with GH improved semen quality and increased serum testosterone without ostensible adverse effects on the general state.

El propósito de este ensayo fue examinar los posibles efectos de la hormona de crecimiento exógena (GH) sobre la calidad del semen, algunas variables del hemograma y la concentración de testosterona en suero de toros bubalinos Nili Ravi. Los búfalos del grupo tratado (n=3) fueron inyectados con 500 mg de somatotropina recombinante cada 15 días durante 10 semanas consecutivas, mientras que los del grupo control (n=3) recibieron igual volumen de solución fisiológica salina. Las muestras de semen fueron tomadas dos veces por semana y analizadas para evaluar los parámetros fisiológicos. Las muestras de sangre colectadas quincenalmente fueron analizadas para establecer el recuento de glóbulos rojos, la concentración de hemoglobina, el hematocrito, el volumen corpuscular medio (MCV), recuento de glóbulos blancos (WBC), tasa de neutrófilos y linfocitos, así como los niveles séricos de testosterona. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados estadísticamente por medio del test-t de Student. Los resultados indicaron que el tratamiento con somatotropina aumentó significativamente (p<0,05) el volumen eyaculado (8,8±0,2 versus 7,7±0,2 ml), la motilidad del semen (72,6±0,4 versus 67,4±0,7), la actividad de masa (3,35±0,07 versus 2,52±0,08), la concentración de espermatozoides (982,2±67,8 versus 731,9±50,5 millones/ml), los espermatozoides vivos (80,1±0,3 versus 75,8±0,5) y el nivel de testosterona sérica (4,02±0,21 versus 2,37±0,07 ng/ml), comparados con los animales controles. En el hemograma aumentaron los linfocitos (p<0,05) y disminuyeron variables como volumen corpuscular medio, recuento de leucocitos y tasa de neutrófilos (p<0,05). Hemoglobina, concentración de eritrocitos y hematocrito permanecieron inalterados. Todos los parámetros investigados se situaron dentro de los rangos normales para toros bubalinos. En conclusión, el tratamiento de búfalos Nili-Ravi con somatotropina mejoró la calidad del semen y aumentó la testosterona sérica, sin provocar ostensibles efectos adversos en el estado general de los toros.

In Pakistan, salinization of agricultural lands is a serious problem prevailing in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the carbohydrates dynamics of the salt-affected soil, amended with different organic matter combinations and incubated for varying time periods (0, 15, 30 and 60 days) and temperatures (15 and 37 ºC). Replenishment of soil organic matter (SOM) was made with Green manure (GM) and Farmyard manure (FYM). The soil pH, EC, Na+ and K+ contents were evaluated through standard methods. An improvement in the soil organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) contents ranging from 0.10 to 1.40% and 0.05 to 0.55% was achieved through the selected soil amendment practices. Total carbohydrates were found to be enhanced with organic treatments alone or in combination, accounting for 13.20% to 26.30% of the total soil. Non-glycosidic interactions of soil carbohydrates with minerals were investigated by applying powdered X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis using a Rigaku wide range goniometer (PW 1050/23). Semi-quantitative analysis of the soil organo-mineral interactions, based on their relative frequency abundance, was expressed in terms of a system of nine components. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed interactions of varying magnitude namely major, minor, trace and rare between the soil carbohydrates and minerals.