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Micronutrients perform a significant role in growth and development of human population, but food crops grown on metal deficient soil showed limited accumulation in their grains, leads toward human malnutrition. Present experiment evaluated the Fe effect in soil and different wheat varieties grown under organic fertilizers treatments. For this purpose, experiment was conducted in Municipal solid waste (MSW-100 & MSW-200g), Poultry waste (PW-100 & PW-200), Press Mud (PM-100 & PM-200), Farm yard manure (FM-100 & FM-200) and control (CT) treatment under both pot and field trials. Study results presented that organic fertilizer treatment significantly increases the Fe content in wheat varieties with respect to control treatment. Maximum Fe level (4.33-8.78mg/kg) was found in MSW-200 treated soil. Root (12.86-29.97mg/kg) and shoot (29.11 to 12.41mg/kg) samples showed maximum Fe mean value in 11CO23 variety grown in FM-200 treatment. Grains (12.46-29.63mg/kg) showed highest Fe accumulation in the JOHAR-16 grown in PM-200 treatment. Fe content was ranges as 0.076-0.154mg/kg in pollution load index, 2.878-4.609mg/kg in bio-concentration factor, 0.00542-0.01287mg/kg in Daily intake index and 0.7737-1.8386mg/kg/day in health risk index. In term of varieties and treatments, maximum Fe content was exhibited in JOHAR-16 during PM-200 treatment while its minimal concentration was recorded in IHSAN-16 during CT treatment. Organic fertilizer treatments basically enhance the Fe content in wheat grains; which proves to be fruitful in decreasing micronutrient malnutrition from human diet in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriander is an important leafy vegetable widely used in Pakistan for flavoring purpose. Due to scarcity of clean water, the coriander fields are irrigated with waste-water. The present study revealed the accumulation of different metals in coriander irrigated with wastewater in big cities such as Sargodha, Pakistan. The bioavailability of heavy metal from soil to plant was evaluated. Seven heavy metals were determined by using Atomic absorption spectrometer. The findings showed high level of arsenic as well as Pb, Cd, and Ni in coriander irrigated with waste-water. Regular monitoring of the contaminated area is recommended in order to reduce the health hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Investigation was performed to assess the effect of different sewage water treatments on the metal status of different fodder species consumed by ruminants under semi-arid conditions. Five samples each of six fodder species viz., Trifolium alexandrinum, Cichorium intybus, Avena sativa, Medicago polymorpha, Brassica campestris and Medicago sativa were collected from three fields irrigated with canal water, mix water (canal water and sewage water) and sewage water, respectively. Fodder samples were analyzed to determine the Mg, Co and Zn concentrations in shoots. Higher values of these metals were found in fodder species irrigated with sewage water relatively. Mg and Zn concentrations in all the fodder species were found to be below the critical level among all treatments. Whereas, concentrations of Co in the different fodder species were significantly different (p<0.05) and above the critical level. Consequently, ruminants feeding on these fodder species need continued mineral supplementation of Zn and Mg elements to prevent diseases caused by the deficiency of these elements, and to support optimum animal productivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]