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Climate change is posing stresses on water resources, food security, population, environment and economy of the southern Punjab. Integrated climate change risk assessment is carried out using assessed likelihood approach for defined mean, hot & dry, central, warm & wet climate models over selected time slices and adaptation plans. Climate models are based on the 5 th , 50 th & 95 th percentiles of PRECIS RCM projections of temperature & precipitation under IPCC A2 & A1B scenarios. Four time slices 2015, 2035, 2065 and 2085 are selected to assess the temporal climate change risk and to evaluate the performance of selected adaptations to reduce climate threats over considered assets. Results are presented in terms of risk indices and risk reduction units (RRUs). In first half of the 21 st century, climate change risk will continue to increase from current level and is high (>10) in most of the selected time slices. Maximum ensembles of climate models, time slices and adaptation plans observe moderate (37–40 RRUs) and high (40–55 RRUs) risk class. Cumulative risk has been calculated through integration of sectoral sensitivity e.g. population density, land use, food security and multidimensional poverty to climate change risk class using AHP and overlaying in GIS environment. About 90% and 83% area of southern Punjab is falling in high cumulative risk. About 13% area, comprising Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur district is under very high cumulative risk. Water induced adaptations like development of water resources, dam & flood control protection, temporary flood barriers and water resource acquisition are the preferred and suitable adaptations as these observed >100 RRUs for most of the ensembles. Assessing baseline vulnerability and sectoral sensitivity to climate stimuli are the hot spots requiring priority attention and firm decision making by disaster management authorities and communities residing in southern Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Punjab-Pakistan, growing tuberose is a profitable business as returns are double than cost despite of certain bottlenecks such as fluctuations in the prices and unawareness of farmers regarding its post-harvest handling. Keeping in view high market demand in local flower markets, the present study was conducted to extend the postharvest life of cut tuberose spikes by pulsing cut spikes with various preservatives. Among various pulsing treatments, 10% sucrose plus 50 mg L-1 salicylic acid (SA) for 24 hours proved best with the longest vase life (10.2 d), more number of days required to open 50% florets (5.0 days), maximum dry weight percentage (13.2%) and superior quality spikes (7.6). Moreover, longest florets (7.0 cm) with greater floret diameter (4.2 cm), highest percentage of opened florets (90.0%) and minimum ion leakage of florets (140.0%) was recorded for spikes pulsed with 10% sucrose plus 50 mg L-1 salicylic acid for 24 hours. On the other hand, highest water uptake (106.0 mL) and the maximum relative fresh weight percentage (109.9%) were observed in cut tuberose spikes treated with 50 mg L-1 salicylic acid without sucrose solution. In summary, pulsing of cut tuberose spikes with 50 mg L-1 SA with or without 10% sucrose proved effective for extending vase life and improving postharvest performance of cut tuberose spikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of frequency, severity, damages and adaptation costs of climate extremes is crucial to manage their aftermath. Evaluation of PRECIS RCM modelled data under IPCC scenarios in Southern Punjab reveals that monthly mean temperature is 30 °C under A2 scenario, 2.4 °C higher than A1B which is 27.6 °C in defined time lapses. Monthly mean precipitation under A2 scenario ranges from 12 to 15 mm and for A1B scenario it ranges from 15 to 19 mm. Frequency modelling of floods and droughts via poisson distribution shows increasing trend in upcoming decades posing serious impacts on agriculture and livestock, food security, water resources, public health and economic status. Cumulative loss projected for frequent floods without adaptation will be in the range of USD 66.8–79.3 billion in time lapse of 40 years from 2010 base case. Drought damage function @ 18% for A2 scenario and @ 13.5% for A1B scenario was calculated; drought losses on agriculture and livestock sectors were modelled. Cumulative loss projected for frequent droughts without adaptation under A2 scenario will be in the range of USD 7.5–8.5 billion while under A1B scenario it will be in the range of USD 3.5–4.2 billion for time lapse of 60 years from base case 1998–2002. Severity analysis of extreme events shows that situation get worse if adaptations are not only included in the policy but also in the integrated development framework with required allocation of funds. This evaluation also highlights the result of cost benefit analysis, benefits of the adaptation options (mean & worst case) for floods and droughts in Southern Punjab. Additionally the research highlights the role of integrated extreme events impact assessment methodology in performing the vulnerability assessments and to support the adaptation decisions. This paper is an effort to highlight importance of bottom up approaches to deal with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From January 2010 to December 2011, samples of leaves from citrus varieties Kinnow, Musambi and Feutral were taken from the five tehsils (administrative subdivisions) of Sargodha District in Pakistan including Sargodha, Bahalwal, Silanwalli, Sahiwal and Kotmomin, to study the population trends in citrus leaf miner (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), and its correlation with various environmental factors: (temperature, humidity and rainfall); plant morphological factors: moisture contents of leaves, leaf thickness, surface area (cm), and biochemical percentage of calcium, potassium and magnesium in leaves. The maximum population of CLM was observed on Kinnow and Feutral, followed by Musambi. The effect of these factors on the larval population was 8.39- 2.30(Mg)+2.73(K)-0.398(Ca)-0.100(Temp)0.038(Humidity)+0.567(Rain)+0.07(Moist) 1.01 (Thickness)-0.022(Surface area). This equation revealed that magnesium, calcium, temperature, humidity, leaf thickness and leaf surface area are negatively correlated with larvae population, whereas potassium, rainfall and moisture are positively correlated with larvae population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]