Diversity Analysis of Rotifers from Temporary Spring Pools of Jallo Park, Lahore, Pakistan

Temporary pools are relatively small water bodies with limited resources and are seasonally available. These freshwater bodies are rich source of microbial and planktonic lifeObjective: This survey was conducted to find out the presence of rotifers in temporary pools formed inJallo Park established in 1978 and explore their density and diversityMethods: Sample collection was done from ten pools with the help of a planktonic mesh. The counting was performed with a Sedgwick- Rafter chamber. Diversity indices like Shannon Weaver index etc. Were applied Results: In present study 27 rotifer species belonging to 14 genera were identified. The highest diversity and density was shown by Brachionus and Lecane. There was even distribution in each pool. Results of ANOVA showed statistically significant difference in population density and diversityConclusions: This study has presented a guideline to find out rotifer diversity which could be present in any water reservoir like temporary pool.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management in Mungbean and Sunflower Intercropping

Yield of some crops is greater for intercropping systems than sole cropping. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) residue is fragile and does not provide a lot of ground cover. The culture and morphology of sunflower, therefore, indicated that it had intercropping potential. In this regard, field experiments were used to test whether intercropping (sunflower and mungbean) by different rates of the N and P nutrients (Exp. I) along with different row combinations and sowing dates (Exp. II) would improve the ground cover per unit area, could increase yield and/or yield traits as well as improve soil fertility. Consequently, two field experiments were conducted in spring seasons of 2011 and 2012. In experiment I sunflower was intercropped with mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) along with sole crop of sunflower, mungbean were studied at three rates (30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1) of each N and P including one control treatment. In experiment II, in addition to the intercropping of sunflower-mungbean, one and two mungbean 7 rows at different dates (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) from date of sunflower planting within the rows were studied. Both experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan (34001’12.69” N, 71o27’54.80” E). The Exp. I was arranged in a split plots where crops (soles and intercrops) assigned to the main plots and nutrients (N and P) to subplots. Each experimental unit of the experiments was replicated four times. Data were recorded on crops phenology, yield and yield traits. Competitive indices e.g. the land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER), competitive ratio (CR), aggressivity ratio (Ag), relative crowding coefficient (K) and monitory advantage (MAI) of intercropping on sole crop were also calculated. Between the cropping systems (sole vs. intercrop) no statistical advantage was observed in plant phenology, yield or yield traits of sunflower and mungbean. However, increase in given N-rates had significantly (P<0.05) delayed days to flowering and days to maturity in contrast to increasing P to the crops. Leaf area index (LAI) increased by 45-51% in sunflower and 50-72% in mungbean with each increments of N and/or P over control treatment. Plant height increased in the range 5-10% in sunflower and 19-30% in mungbean with increasing the given N and P rates. By increasing N, the above ground biomass of sunflower increased about 17-30% and biomass of mungbean increased about 44- 100%. Similarly by increasing P over the control treatment the biomass of sunflower increased about 20-26% and biomass of mungbean increased 70-73%. With increase in N the Grain yield (kg ha-1) of sunflower enhanced by 27-58% and mungbean by 47- 112%. Likewise with increasing P-rates over the control, the grain yield of sunflower increased by 40-48% and mungbean by 71-94%. This increase in grain yield was mainly associated to the increase in sunflower head diameter (21-35%), grain number (10-18%) and thousand grains weight (35-47%) and pod number (63-87%), grains per pod (0-28%) and grains weight (10-21%) of the mungbean. By increasing N to the crop with mild increases at the higher P the oil content of sunflower grains showed a trivial reduction of 0-6%. By increasing the given N and/or P rates to the crop over control treatment the N content in the grain increased in the ranges from 5-28% and in the straw 3-24%, which ultimately resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase of N uptakes in both grains and straw. Nodule number and weight in mungbean crop showed a drastic reduction (P<0.05) up to 50% by the increase in N fertilizer rates, however, there was a stable slight (P<0.05) increase in nodule number and their weight by increasing P-rate to the crop. Except LAI, none of the observed parameters showed advantage of intercropping over the sole mungbean crop. Competitive indices did not show any remarkable advantage of the intercropping. In Exp. II sunflower did not show any reflective changes (P<0.05) in any of the observed parameters except LAI. Nevertheless, days to maturity delayed by delay in sowing of mungbean with a nonsignificant (P<0.05) difference in yield and yield traits, which resulted in a nonsignificant change in yield and biomass. Intercropping did not show any reflective (P<0.05) results over the sole crop for yield and yield contributing traits of mungean. The study suggested that mungbean under the given factors could not show any profound increment in yield or net return, however, a possible intercropping for sunflower canopy needs to be investigated with sunflower sowing dates and planting geometry for more valuable outcomes.