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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]

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]