Should teens be allowed to consent for vaccines?

Teens and children will need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. Most parents are eager to have their teens immunized, whereas some are hesitant. Should teens be allowed to consent to immunization even if their parents’ objects? Vaccines are safe and effective, medically recommended, and good for both the individual and the community. Inspite of these powerful arguments, the law lags behind. Most parents want their teens to be immunized. Most vaccine-hesitant parents ultimately agree to vaccination. Furthermore, teens who get COVID generally have mild cases. For now, the law in most states does not permit teens to consent to the COVID-19 vaccine without parental permission.

Integrated Nitrogen Management in Hybrid Maize Zea Mays L.

A two year field experiment was conducted to evaluate integrated nitrogen management in hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during 2008-09. The experiment was laid out a randomized complete block design (RCBD) under factorial arrangement with three replications. First experiment comprised two hybrids; H1 (Pioneer-30Y87) and H2 (Pioneer-31R88) with six nitrogen sources S0 : control (0) kg N ha-1, S1 : chemical source (urea) @ 250 kg N ha-1 , S2: poultry manure (PM) @ 9.6 t ha-1 , S3 : farm yard manure (FYM) @17.8 t ha-1, S4: pressmud of sugarcane (PS) @ 8.5 t ha-1 and S5: compost (C) @ 10.0 t ha-1. Second experiment containing two hybrids; H1(Pioneer-30Y87) and H2 (Pioneer-31R88) with combination of six nitrogen sources S0 : Control (0) kg N ha-1, S1:Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%), S2: Urea (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (50%) , S3 : Urea (50%) + Pressmud of sugarcane manure (PS) (50%), S4: Urea (50%) + Compost (50%), S5: Urea (50%) + (PM+FYM+PS+ Compost) 50% . Urea was used as chemical source of nitrogen in split doses at the rate of 250 kg N ha-1 (half at sowing and half in two equal splits, (half at knee height and remaining half at tasseling) and all the organic sources i.e. farm yard manure, pressmud of sugarcane, compost and poultry manure were applied at the time of sowing. In the second experiment 50% urea was applied in split doses and remaining 50 % nitrogen was given in organic form from all the above mentioned sources at the time of sowing. Recommended 100 kg P ha-1 and 100 kg K ha-1 was applied at sowing; some from organic sources and remaining from chemical sources in the form single super phosphate (SSP) and sulphate of potash (SOP) which was applied in both years. All other cultural practices were kept normal and uniform for all the treatments. In first experiment results showed that hybrid maize planted in 2008 exhibited more production as compared to planted in 2009. Hybrid maize H1 (Poineer-30Y87) and nitrogen source S1 : chemical source (urea) @ 250 kg N ha-1 produced significantly more cobs per plant, 1000-grain weight, plant height, number of days to tasseling and number of days to maturity and grain yield as compared to H2 (Pioneer-30R88) but number of grains rows per cob, and number of days for silking was non significant in both hybrids. Simultaneously H1 (Poineer-30Y87) and nitrogen source S1 : chemical source (urea) @ 250 kg N ha-1 also showed high leaf area index, leaf area duration, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate as compared to H2 (Pioneer- 30R88). Similarly grain protein and grain oil content was also high in H1 (Poineer- 30Y87). Nutrients (N, P, K) concentration in plant and nutrients uptake like (N, P, K) was non significant in both hybrids while significant in nitrogen source S1: chemical source (urea) @ 250 kg N ha-1. Inorganic nitrogen sources did not show significant effect on soil bulk density while in sole application of poultry manure decreased the bulk density and increased organic matter of the soil. A significant effect of nitrogen use efficiency was noted in both hybrids and nitrogen sources. In second experiment performance of hybrid maize H1 was best at nitrogen source S1 : Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%) in all the yield and growth relating parameters . Grain yield, number of cobs per plant, 1000-grain weight, and stover yield of the hybrid maize H1 (Pioneer-30Y87) differed significantly in both years from hybrids H2 (Pioneer 31R88) and more in 2008 as compared to 2009, Whereas number of grains rows per cob and biological yield was non significant in hybrids. Hybrid maize H1 (Pioneer-30Y87) took more number of days for tasseling, silking and maturity (non significant) as compared to other hybrid. H1 (Poineer-30Y87) and nitrogen source S1 : Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%) also exhibited greater leaf area index, leaf area duration, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate as compared to H2 (Pioneer-30R88).Grain quality was better in H1 (Poineer-30Y87). Nutrient concentration in plant and uptake was non significant in both hybrids but significant in nitrogen source S1: Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%) as compared to the other integrated nitrogen sources. Combinations of chemical and organic sources of nitrogen have significant effect on the soil bulk density and organic matter. Nitrogen source S1 Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%) decreased the bulk density and increased the organic matter of the soil. Nitrogen use efficiency was significantly influenced by both hybrids and nitrogen sources. On the basis of two year field experiments it was concluded that hybrid maize H1 (Pioneer 30Y87) produced better grain yield and performed best when nitrogen source used was sole chemical source (urea) @ 250 kg N ha-1 and in combination of Urea (50%) + Poultry manure (50%) as compared to hybrid H2 with same treatment combinations.