Climatic resilience of wheat is its capacity to absorb disorder, maintain, self-organization while retaining the same basic structure and ways of functioning, adaptating to stress and change. The present studies were conducted with the objectives (a) to understand wheat crop biodynamism and its relation with yield under variable climatic conditions of Pothwar, (b) to parameterize and evaluate the APSIM-wheat module under variable local environmental conditions (c) to enhance understanding about the resilience of wheat under rainfed conditions using APSIM. Field trials on wheat were performed during two wheat growing environments from 2008 to 2010 at high (Islamabad), medium (Chakwal) and low (Talagang) rainfall zones of Pothwar. A Randomized complete block design was used and three wheat genotypes (Chakwal-50, Wafaq-2001 and GA-2002) were replicated four times among five planting windows denoted as PW''s. The PW‘s as management‘s starts from October and ended at the start of December. These five planting windows were denoted as PW1 (Sowing between 10-20 October), PW2 (Sowing between 21-31 October), PW3 (Sowing between 1-10 November), PW4 (Sowing between 11-20 November) and PW5 (Sowing between 01-10 December). Daily rainfall data (1961-2010) were obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Soil water dynamics recorded layer wise at pre-sowing, three leaf, tillering anthesis and maturity stages of crop showed significant variability at different locations among PW‘s and environments. Significant differences were observed in the pattern of emergence rate index (ERI), growth, drymatter accumulation, yield and grain quality of wheat crop at three locations among PW‘s and during two environments (2008-09 and 2009-10). The number of days for phenological development of crop (Z13, Z20, Z60 and Z92) remained statistically higher at Islamabad during 2008-09 as compared to other locations and second environment. Dry matter accumulation at three leaf and anthesis stage remained significantly different during two environments, three locations and planting windows. However, decline in drymatter at Talagang, late sowing and during 2009- 10 was due to prevailing stresses in the form of moisture and temperature. The xxvii trend of growth dynamics (crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR)) remained greater during 2008-09 for PW2 at Islamabad while lowest at Talagang and during 2009-10. The CGR and NAR reduction was recorded for all genotypes from Islamabad to Talagang moving from PW1 to PW5. Physiological parameters like stomatal conductance (gs), Stomatal resistance (rs), Net Photosynthetic rate (An), Transpiration rate (E) and Intercellular CO2 (Ci) were significantly affected due to treatments (environments, locations, PW‘s and genotypes). The maximum stomatal conductance recorded during 2008- 09 (0.639 mole m-2 sec-1) while minimum noted during 2009-10 (0.498 mole m-2 sec-1). However, stomatal resistance remained inverse to conductance among treatments. Similarly, significant variability in SPAD chlorophyll contents and proline concentration recorded at anthesis among treatments. Grain yield reduced for all genotypes with change in planting windows during two environments at three variable locations. Quantification of this yield to environmental variables depicted reduction (65 kg/ha/day) across the genotypes and environments. Similar trend was observed for other yield components. The Agricultural Production System Simulator (APSIM) was evaluated and parameterized as a bioinformatics tool using wheat crop, soil and climatic data of three locations of Pothwar. The optimization and modification of various genotype coefficients lead to goodness of fit between simulated and observed data regarding the occurrence of anthesis and maturity by accurately regulating the phasic development of the genotypes used in this study. This improvement in the models ability also improved the simulation capabilities of the model regarding days after sowing, leaf area index (LAI), drymatter accumulation, yield, harvest index (HI) and total soil water extraction across treatments. The validated crop simulation model was used as decision support tool for selecting optimum planting window and genotypes at different locations during variable environments. The simulation analysis regarding partioning of yield across PW‘s at different locations among genotypes showed that sowing after PW3 was more vulnerable to climate fluctuations governed by SOI phases in July. The long term APSIM analysis depicted that increase or decrease in wheat yield is linked with rainfall variability governed by Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) phases in July. The analysis using probabilistic approach based on long term rainfall variability revealed 44, 40 and 35 % possibility of exceeding median rain for Islamabad, Chakwal and Talagang when SOI phase in July is near zero, whereas possibility of exceeding 35, 34 and 33% possibility of exceeding median rain at Islamabad, Chakwal and Talagang is linked with negative SOI phase in July. Similarly, model forecasted monsoon (JAS), early wheat growing season (NDJ), end wheat growing season (FMA) and total growing season rainfall (NDJFMA) with good accuracy and skill scores. Further work is suggested to link climatic variability all over Pakistan with SOI and SSTs so that risk management tools can be used in the agricultural system management to maintained yield sustainability. Similarly use of simulation techniques like APSIM and ―R‖ as decision making tool based upon long term climatic data need to be used for development of agriculture sector.
مولانا حبیب الرحمن لدھیانوی افسوس ہے اس ماہ کی ۲ تاریخ کو مولانا حبیب الرحمن لدھیانوی ایک معمولی دورۂ قلب کے بعد۶۴برس کی عمر اچانک رہ گزائے عالم جادوانی ہوگئے۔ مولانا نے اپنے سب اہل خاندان کی طرح دارالعلوم دیوبند میں تعلیم پائی تھی۔ لیکن چوں کہ وہ موروثی اورخاندانی طورپر ایک مجاہد،بطل حریت اورزعیم قوم تھے اس لیے تعلیم سے فراغت کے بعد ہی عملی سیاست کی وادی پرخار میں کود پڑے۔ اس تقریب سے ان کا تعلق کانگریس سے بھی رہا اورجمعیۃ علمائے ہندسے بھی، اس کے علاوہ مجلس احرار کے تووہ نفس ناطقہ یا عقل ِفعال ہی تھے۔خوش تقریری، خطابت،جرأت وبیباکی،ذہانت اورطباعی،ایثار وفداکاری یہ اُن کی وہ خصوصیات تھیں جن کے باعث وہ جہاں کہیں رہے اورجس محفل میں بیٹھے ممتازاور نمایاں ہو کررہے۔عمرکے کم وبیش بارہ سال جیل میں کاٹے ہوں گے۔جہاں انھوں نے شدائد ومحن کامقابلہ بڑی بے جگری اوربے خوفی کے ساتھ کیا۔آزادی کی صر صر انقلاب نے شہرت وناموری کے بڑے بڑے روشن چراغ بجھادیے ورنہ ایک زمانہ تھا کہ مرحوم کی لیڈری کاڈنکا بجتاتھا۔زندگی بڑی قلندانہ اوردرویشانہ تھی یعنی ’’نے غم دزدو نے غم کالا‘‘ ایک معمولی سی تہمد،بغیر بٹنوں کے گریبان کھلا کرتہ اورسرپر چوگوشہ ٹوپی، جلوت میں اور خلوت میں،اندرون خانہ اورپبلک میں انھیں جہاں کہیں دیکھا اسی وضع میں دیکھا۔ حددرجہ خلیق ومتواضع، بڑے سادہ اوربے تکلف، مگراپنی بات کے پکے اوردھن کے پورے۔تقسیم کے بعد مشرقی پنجاب سے تعلق کے باوجود پاکستان میں رہنے کے بجائے دلّی میں معہ اپنے خاندان کے آبسے تھے لیکن کچھ انقلاب روزگار اورکچھ ہجوم امراض وامتدادِسن، ان کا اثر یہ ہواکہ آخر میں عملی سیاست سے دست کش ہو گئے تھے اور سلوک ومعرفت کااُن پر اس حددرجہ غلبہ ہوگیا تھا کہ اُن کے سیاسی افکار میں بھی اشراقیت کارنگ ابھر آیا تھا۔ عجیب اوصاف وکمالات کے بزرگ تھے۔ان...
TechnoHeart is a digital way of monitoring heart rate using a Heart Rate Monitor device and an android phone. Moreover, this is made more special through its work-out training which is designed to help users set and achieve their target heart rate and monitor at what training intensity they are during a strenuous exercise. The training is made more interactive as the application has its real-time audio coaching. The need for this application comes from three sources; First, some athletes, non-athletes and even doctors are still using the traditional way of getting the heart rate; Second, training intensity is not monitored and target heart rate is not achieved; Third, most mobile developments do not tailor the need of users who undergo work-out training. With the following needs, objectives were set; First, to connect an HRM (Heart Rate Monitoring) device to an android mobile device and display individual’s heart rate in digital form through mobile; Second, to create a work-out training program using the Karvonen Formula; Third, to enable users know one’s target heart rate by using a Karvonen calculator; Fourth, to notify users in real time with every sudden change and the needed action in order to keep an effective training exercise. The project is to explore this and other similar concepts to develop a design that optimally satisfies all of these objectives. The project addresses all of these objectives while meeting the constraints given. The project was deployed in three different sets of users: The University of Mindanao Athletes, The elderly users aging from 50-80 years old and the other users aging from 12-49 years old. The researchers recommend the use of TechnoHeart for athletes and non-athletes who are aiming for an effective cardiovascular training. And for the next researchers, they can focus on the compatibility of the said application to other mobile platforms like iOS, Blackberry, Windows and etc. And also, they may upload application in the internet such as in social networking sites or any features that would make this project more usable.
This study was conducted in 2013-15 on three main industrial estates of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK). The purpose of the study was to analyze the current industrial set up, estimate pollution load/status i.e water, air and noise, and identify role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in pollution abetment. For this purpose the three industrial estates were analyzed for three main categories include steel mill, paper industry and marble industries. Two surface water bodies i.e. Kabul River and Haro River, the receiving water bodies were also analyzed for various physical and chemical parameters. Besides, three EIA reports were evaluated for its role in pollution abatement. Till 2012 there were 640 industrial units operational. EIA/IEE was conducted for 203 industries only. out of this three industries, for which EIA was conducted were analyzed in detail. Among these Paper mill was observed as polluted most industry. Instead of EIA, no mitigation measures were observed in paper mill. The total annual pollution load, calculated for paper and marble industry was 691 thousands and 7814 Kg respectively. Similarly air pollution and noise level was also observed high in steel industry with no mitigation measures. By comparing the various air and water parameters revealed that most of the industries were not complying with Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standards (Pak-NEQS) or the list is incomplete or deficient. For example, Steel industries were studied for water recycling. From recycling point of view, two parameters, are important but not mentioned in the list of Pak-NEQS i.e. odor and turbidity. If we make these parameters part of the NEQS and address it properly then the water used in the steel mills can be recycled. After experimentation, to solve the problem of coliform baxteria and odor, KMnO4 was suggested. Occupational health and safety is also not mentioned in the IEE/EIA Regulations 2000. Therefore the situation of occupational health and safety is very poor. This revealed that EIA process is very deficit and has got no proactive or reactive role to combat environmental pollution. It is therefore recommended to revisit the Pak-NEQS and IEE/EIA Regulations for further improvement and make research and development process as part of the EIA process.