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During the study, different control practices, such as host plant resistance, imidacloprid seed treatment combined with the use of blue sticky traps, neem seed kernel extract, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and synthetic insecticides (acephate and chlorfenapyr), were tested individually and in various combinations for managing thrips (Megalurothrips distalis). A mungbean genotype, 13TM-04, known for its comparative resistance, was chosen for these trials. The treatments, whether applied alone or in various combinations, showed significant differences in efficacy when compared with each other. A combination of treatments viz., imidacloprid seed treatment+ installation of blue sticky traps and chlorfenapyr 360 SC @ 100ml/acre spray was observed to be the most successful against thrips and resulted in maximum yield 1970.1 kg/ha of mungbean. While imidacloprid seed treatment with blue sticky trap installation, alone, did not show distinctive impact on the thrips population as well as on the yield in mungbean. The imidacloprid seeds treatment remained effective up to 38 days after sowing against the thrips. The application of chlorfenapyr and acephate, either individually as sprays or in combination with other control measures, resulted in a notable reduction in the thrips population. For the management of M. distalis in mungbean combination of imidacloprid seed treatment, blue sticky traps installation and chlorfenapyr at 100 ml/acre should be applied. Current studies provide useful information to adopt integrated pest management of thrips at Bhakkar district for the local farmers for better crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In thisstudy, fruit cakes were made by replacing fat in different proportion with grape fruit albedo powder. The effect of fiber source on physicochemical, sensory attributes and microbiological properties of fruit cakes were examined during 30 days of storage. Results showed that with varying fiber content water activity, texture, color, moisture, fat, protein, ash, NFE and fiber content changed significantly (p<0.05). Gross energy level in cake which is desirable by consumers was reduced but high fiber cake was dark colored, low in volume and with increased hardness. Treatment (T3) containing 5.6g grapefruit albedo powder shows significantly (p<0.05) higher sensory scores in term of color (8.02±0.50), flavor (8.04±0.29), taste (8.18±0.37), mouth feel (8.03±0.41) and overall acceptability (7.84±0.28) during 30 days of storage. It is concluded that grapefruit albedo fiber could be utilized as a source of fiber to further enhance the nutritional potential of fruit cake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping of cereal and legume forages following proper planting geometry is an important strategy to achieve higher yield of quality forage. A field experiment was performed to evaluate agro-qualitative response of forage pearl millet sown as a base crop and sesbania as intercrop under different geometrical patterns (line sowing of sole pearl millet, line sowing of sole sesbania, cross planting of pearl millet and sesbania, blended seed sowing of pearl millet and sesbania, sesbania intercropping in 30 cm apart rows of pearl millet, sesbania intercropping in 45 cm apart two-row strips of pearl millet, and sesbania intercropping in 75 cm apart four-row strips of pearl millet) at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Sesbania intercropping reduced pearl millet growth. Nonetheless, least decrease in height (23%), leaf area (42%) and number of leaves (16%) of pearl millet was occurred by intercropping sesbania in 45 cm apart two-row strips of pearl millet, as compared to sole cropping of pearl millet. Total green forage yield (60%) was increased by sesbania intercropping over sole-cropping of pearl millet and the intercropping of sesbania in 45 cm apart two-row strips of pearl millet was most beneficial. Intercropping improved quality of fodder mixture, compared to sole-cropping. Crude protein (84%) was improved most by cross planting over sole pearl millet, while, crude fiber (36%) and ash contents (20%) were improved by blended seed sowing, as compared to sole cropping of sesbania. Potential benefits of forage pearl millet can be acquired by intercropping with sesbania and following the planting geometry of sesbania intercropped in 45 cm apart two-row strips of pearl millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, fennel is conventionally grown without fertilizer. A field experiment, was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer treatments (NP in ratio of 0:0, 30:0, -1 0:30, 30:15, 30:30, 60:30, 60:60, 90:45 and 90:90 kg ha-1 ) on growth, seed yield and quality of fennel during 2011-2012. Fertilizer NP dose (90:45 kg ha-1 ) increased plant height by 44%, number of leaves per plant by 76%, 1000 seed weight by 44%, biological yield by 50%, seed yield by 296%, harvest index by 162% and protein content by 6%. However, fertilizer NP (90:45 kg ha-1 ) decreased oil content by 26%. Therefore, addition of NP fertilizer had the potential to increase fennel seed yield, but reduce oil content, under Faisalabad conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The man's existence is closely linked with animals in multiple use, to earn livelihood and even used as food. The fodder and forages are the major nutritional items along with other supplements. In Pakistan and sub-continent, the shortage of fodder and forages is very common particularly in kharif season because shortage of the fresh water resources. The waste water is manly passed down as supplemental irrigation source to irrigate field crops including fodder and forages. The studies showed the provisions of Iron (Fe) in feces, forages, soil, fodder and grazing animal's blood data collect from the Sargodha, Jhang, Layyah and Bhakkar districts of the Punjab. Five sites, three animal's (Cow, Sheep and Goat) and two origins (Blood and Feces) were selected. Standard samples preparation methods were worker to check occurrence of the heavy rock's metals in the forage and soil samples. The Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to check Iron (Fe). The results revealed that Fe were found in safe limit, as per WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the relationship amongst leaf chlorophyll contents, yield and related parameters, 18 advanced genotypes of cotton were tested in a trial at Cotton Research Station, Faisalabad. Highly significant results were noticed in the analysis of variance. Further investigation in correlation analysis revealed that there was comendable positive association among leaf chlorophyll contents, seed cotton yield (SCY), No. of sympodia, seed index and boll weight(g). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated that only 02 out of 08 PCs showed eigen value greater than 1. The contribution of first two PCs in total variability was 70.77% amongst the genotypes assessed for chlorophyll contents, seed cotton yield and related traits. Remaining six components contributed very less viz. 30.8% in total variability. Valuable positive factor loadings on PC I was attributed by seed cotton yield, chlorophyll contents, boll weight, No. of sympodia, seed index and Ginning out turn (GOT)%. In PC II, maximum positive contribution was presented by plant height whereras maximum negative factor loadings were showed by GOT% and seed index. PCA also confirmed the results of correlation studies by presenting significant positive association among leaf chlorophyll contents, seed cotton yield, No. of sympodia, seed index and boll weight. These results will be helpful in further breeding strategies for selection of genotypes with respect to chlorophyll contents, yield and associated traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate sowing time is an important aspect that can affect the gowth and yield of any crop. So, a research trial was planned at Research Area, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan to investigate the impect of different sowing dates on growth and yield on mungbean cultivars. The research trial was arranged out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) under split plot arrangement followed by 3 replicas. In this study four different sowing dates (1st March, 15th March, 29th March and 12th April and two cultivars (AZRI-2006 and NM-92) were used. Data regarding leaf area index, leaf area duration, plant height (cm), number of pod bearing branches per plant, number of grains per pod,1000-grain weight (g), grain yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1) and harvest index (%) of mungbean were recorded by using standrd procedure. Results of experiment revealed that sowing date of 1st march and varity AZRI-2006 result in maximum leaf area index (3.43), leaf area duration (24.14), plant height (74.067cm), number of pod bearing branches per plant (60.96), number of grains per pod (11.30), grain yield (715.11 kg ha-1), biological yield (7773.3 kg ha-1) and harvest index (9.6167%) while sowing date 12th april and Varity AZRI-2006 produce maximum 1000-grain weight (66.67 g). On the bases of result of this study it was concluded that sowing date of 1st march and varity AZRI-2006 play important role in aching maximum yield of mungbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety refers to the potentially hazardous agents or contaminants present in food that can cause food-borne illness. These extraneous agents are causing morbidity and mortality. Contamination of food by various agents includes physical, chemical, and microbiological. Food safety ensures that what we eat, chew, or drink is safe for human health. The whole food chain should be monitored right from production to consumption. The public health burden of developing countries is increasing beyond their resources. In developing countries like Pakistan, food safety issues result in serious health issues. Diarrhea is perhaps the most important problem that is responsible for more than half of the global burden of food borne diseases, causing 550 million people to fall ill and 230,000 deaths every year. Children are at particular risk of food borne diarrheal diseases, with 220 million falling ill and 96000 dying every year. There is a persistent rise in the health expenditure of Pakistan. Pakistan is spending 0.5 to 0.8% of its GDP. Total health expenditure during 2016-17 remains at 145.97 billion showing an increase of 9 percent over the last year. Pakistan has dire need of revamping the food safety policy and infrastructure. Food being an important intake is a major source of human exposure. Finally, risk of unsafe communication is required for management and prevention of consumer-based food borne illness, most prevailing illness. We ignore food safety challenges at our peril as potential consequences of a lapse are huge; keeping the food supply safe is a never-ending task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fruit based products are major part of healthy diet ever since human life began on earth. Now a day, consumers prefer ready to eat and convenient food. Food bars are healthy nutritious, small meals having sensory attributes as well. In the present study, apricot based snack bars were prepared with spinach powder addition to enhance micronutrient status of snack food bars. Four treatments were prepared by increasing the level of spinach in apricot bars and storage was done up to 3 months. Moisture and sugar content decreased with storage time while ash and fiber contents remained same during storage. The mineral and ash contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) among the treatments. Total sugars ranged from 64.77% to 67.29%. Reducing sugars were high than non-reducing sugars. It has been concluded that the addition of spinach has positive effect on acceptability and nutritional value of bars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]