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Energy is a crucial factor and a capital of a country's resources leading indicator. World's energy focus is shifting towards alternate renewable, cheap and environment-friendly resources that can provide long-term sustainability for survival. Due to the fossil fuels depletion and their ever-growing cost, the need to shift focus towards renewable energy resources has increased a lot. To overcome the above-said problems, there is a need to look for a feasible and robust solution for thermal applications in remote areas. Biomass gasification proved to be one of the most efficient and clean waste-to-energy conversion processes in contrast to direct combustion of agricultural waste. Other than controlled burning of biomass, it can be subjected for different purposes like a thermal, synthesis of ethanol, engine running, and for fuel cell applications. An excessive amount of impurities like char, ash, tar, and particulate matter are making these syngas non-feasible for thermal or engine applications. To overcome the above-stated problem, a downdraft gasifier with cyclone separator and hybrid biomass filter was fabricated using locally available materials in the workshop of the Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Uniform distribution of 2.54-5.08 cm2 sizes of feedstock was used for gasification. Air was used as a gasifying agent. The reactor capacity was 0.19 m3. The values of performance parameters for wood waste and corncobs were recorded as fuel consumption rate (0.002195, 0.002323) kg-s-1, the volume of gas produced (24.56, 26.33) m3, operating time (5480, 5164) s, cleaning unit efficiency (81.79, 79.9) % and gas yield (2.04, 2.19) m³-kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is a crucial factor and a capital of a country’s resources leading indicator. World’s energy focus is shifting towards alternate renewable, cheap and environment-friendly resources that can provide long-term sustainability for survival. Due to the fossil fuels depletion and their ever-growing cost, the need to shift focus towards renewable energy resources has increased a lot. To overcome the above-said problems, there is a need to look for a feasible and robust solution for thermal applications in remote areas. Biomass gasification proved to be one of the most efficient and clean waste-to-energy conversion processes in contrast to direct combustion of agricultural waste. Other than controlled burning of biomass, it can be subjected for different purposes like a thermal, synthesis of ethanol, engine running, and for fuel cell applications. An excessive amount of impurities like char, ash, tar, and particulate matter are making these syngas non-feasible for thermal or engine applications. To overcome the above-stated problem, a downdraft gasifier with cyclone separator and hybrid biomass filter was fabricated using locally available materials in the workshop of the Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Uniform distribution of 2.54-5.08 cm² sizes of feedstock was used for gasification. Air was used as a gasifying agent. The reactor capacity was 0.19 m³ . The values of performance parameters for wood waste and corncobs were recorded as fuel consumption rate (0.002195, 0.002323) kg-s-1, the volume of gas produced (24.56, 26.33) m³, operating time (5480, 5164) s, cleaning unit efficiency (81.79, 79.9) % and gas yield (2.04, 2.19) m³ -kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve yield and shelf life of stock can enhance economic value to flowers growers globally. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various bio-stimulants on yield and quality of stock. Three cultivars of stock, viz. 'Cheerful White', 'Iron Rose' and 'Iron White' foliarly sprayed by bio-stimulants (Isabion and Tecamin Max) with three different concentrations (1 ppm, 3 ppm, and 5 ppm) with the different number of sprays (1, 2, or 3 sprays). The first spray was applied after one month of transplanting, while the other two were applied at fortnight intervals after the first spray. Fisher's Analysis of variance revealed that Isabion at 1 ppm as 1 spray, 3 ppm as 3 sprays, and 5 ppm as 3 sprays produced the highest plant height for three cultivars of stock. 'Cheerful White' had the highest stem length when plants were sprayed once at 1 ppm Isabion. Among cultivars, 'Iron Rose', produced highest leaf area (42.8 cm2) with 3 ppm Isabion application, when sprayed only one time. Among the number of sprays, plants sprayed three times with Isabion produced the thickest stem diameter followed by 2 and 1 sprays. 'Cheerful White' had maximum leaf total chlorophyll contents, followed by 'Iron White' and 'Iron Rose' (69.1 SPAD and 68.8 SPAD, respectively). Among the number of sprays, plants sprayed three times had the longest vase life. Cheerful White proved early cultivar of stock while Iron White were late cultivars when grown in agro-climatic conditions of Faisalabad. Tecamoin Mix is recommended biostimulant for quality production of Mathiola incoma L. rather than isabion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve yield and shelf life of stock can enhance economic value to flowers growers globally. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various bio-stimulants on yield and quality of stock. Three cultivars of stock, viz. ‘Cheerful White’, ‘Iron Rose’ and ‘Iron White’ foliarly sprayed by bio-stimulants (Isabion and Tecamin Max) with three different concentrations (1 ppm, 3 ppm, and 5 ppm) with the different number of sprays (1, 2, or 3 sprays). The first spray was applied after one month of transplanting, while the other two were applied at fortnight intervals after the first spray. Fisher’s Analysis of variance revealed that Isabion at 1 ppm as 1 spray, 3 ppm as 3 sprays, and 5 ppm as 3 sprays produced the highest plant height for three cultivars of stock. ‘Cheerful White’ had the highest stem length when plants were sprayed once at 1 ppm Isabion. Among cultivars, ‘Iron Rose’, produced highest leaf area (42.8 cm² ) with 3 ppm Isabion application, when sprayed only one time. Among the number of sprays, plants sprayed three times with Isabion produced the thickest stem diameter followed by 2 and 1 sprays. ‘Cheerful White’ had maximum leaf total chlorophyll contents, followed by ‘Iron White’ and ‘Iron Rose’ (69.1 SPAD and 68.8 SPAD, respectively). Among the number of sprays, plants sprayed three times had the longest vase life. Cheerful White proved early cultivar of stock while Iron White were late cultivars when grown in agro-climatic conditions of Faisalabad. Tecamoin Mix is recommended biostimulant for quality production of Mathiola incoma L. rather than isabion. [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]