Home > Integration of Management Techniques to Develop Resource Conservation Technology for Autumn Sugarcane Saccharum Officinarum L. Grown on Different Soils under Arid Conditions
Integration of Management Techniques to Develop Resource Conservation Technology for Autumn Sugarcane Saccharum Officinarum L. Grown on Different Soils under Arid Conditions
Keeping in view the low fertilizer and water use efficiency of autumn sugarcane in Pakistan, a research project was initiated at the research area of the Rukh Bibi campus of Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan and Main Line Lower Land Reclamation Research Station Chak No 37 TDA (Thal Development Authority) Bhakkar during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 to provide a practicable package of resource conservation technology to sugarcane growers under arid envirnment. Three experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement, replicated 4 times. The net plot size was 24m 2 . Approved sugarcane variety HSF 240 was used in all experiments. In first experiment four NPK doses F 1 (0-0-0), F 2 (100-100-100), F 3 (150-150-100), F 4 (200-200-100) and F 5 (250- 200-100) kg ha -1 and four planting patterns like G 1 (60), G 2 (75) cm spaced single row planting pattern, G 3 (30/90), and G 4 (30/120) cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern were studied. In secand experiment four available soil moisture depletion levels (ASMDL) including ASMDL 1 (20%), ASMDL 2 (40%), ASMDL 3 (60%) and ASMDL 4 (80%), four planting patterns viz. G 1 (60), G 2 (75) cm spaced single row planting pattern and G 3 (30/90), G 4 (30/120) cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern were studied. In third experiment four Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) levels viz. NAA 0 (control), NAA 1 (60), NAA 2 (120) and NAA 3 (180) ml ha -1 were applied at four plant growth stages S 1 (Germination), S 2 (Tiller formation), S 3 (Cane formation) and S 4 (Cane maturity) stage. Data were recorded on various growth and yield parameters like germination %, number of shoots m -2 , shoot dry weight (SDW), Crop growth rate (CGR), Leaf area index (LAI), Leaf area duration (LAD), Net assimilation rate (NAR), number of millable canes m -2 , weight per stripped cane, cane length; cane diameter, stripped-cane yield, sugar yield (SY), benefit cost ratio (BCR), fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) in all experiments. In first trail under arid conditions on silty clay and sandy loam soils, the highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) were obtained from the combination of 200–200-100 kg NPK ha -1 and 30/90 cm spaced paired row strip planting pattern. In secand trail, maximum economic benefit was obtained by irrigating sugarcane crop at 40% ASMD level and planting it in 30/90 cm spaced paired row strips under arid conditions on silty clay and sandy loam soils. In the third trail maximum economic benefit was obtained from normal investment by applying 120 ml NAA ha -1 at tiller formation stage and maximum sugar recovery percentage was obtained by applying 180 ml of NAA ha -1 at cane maturity stage on silty clay and sandy loam soils. xix It is concluded that sugarcane growers of arid areas can get maximum return from sandy loam and silty clay soils, when sugarcane is planted in 30/90 cm spaced paired row strips with fertilizer dose of 200:200:100 kg NPK ha -1 and field is irrigated at 40% ASMD level with one foliar spray of NAA at the rate of 120 ml ha -1 is applied at tiller formation stage. Production technology evolved through this research has following implications. NAA can also be used as cane ripener and one folier spray of 180 ml NAA ha -1 at cane maturity stage gives maximum sugar recovery percentage. Better water and fertilizer use efficiency of autumn sugarcane on above mentioned soils due to enhanced light interception. Cultural operations in standing crop like irrigation, fertilization, weeding, hoeing, earthing up and foliar spray of pesticides are easily carried out as ample interstrip space is available. Minimum lodging was observed due to avilability of adequate space among the paired row strips. There is also better scope for intercroping to get additional benefits.
During Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's term as Prime Minister, the law and order situation deteriorated throughout the country in general, and in the provinces of NorthWest Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Balochistan in particular. For multiple reasons, the mutual distrust between Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the political leaders of the respective provinces never allowed them to overcome their personal and party interests and establish a harmonious working relationship. Accusations of conspiracy, worsening law and order, and political assassinations, were the dilemmas that agitated the whole country. One of the victims of the political assassination was Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao, a leading activist of the Pakistan People's Party and former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The incident of his murder commenced the series of legal disputes and cases of treason filed against the opposition leaders in courts and tribunals, which marred the political scenario of the country till the very end of the Bhutto era. The lack of research on political assassinations in Pakistan is a crucial oversight, especially considering the frequency of the phenomenon and its implications. This study attempts to highlight the main theoretical and political implications of assassinations and identifies some promising directions for further research, in the hope that this unique type of political violence will be better understood in the future.
In recent years phytochemistry and pharmacognosy appear as a primary focus of research. Torilis leptophylla of family Apiaceae has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal illnesses in many areas of Pakistan and also the plant is traditionally used for its antimicrobial and anticancer properties. The present work describes the biological and various pharmaco-clinical effects of extract/fractions of T. leptophylla, with special focus on its possibility to counteract oxidative damage and fibrosis. At first, shade dried whole plant of T. leptophylla was extracted with methanol and the residue (TLM) was suspended in water and partitioned successively with n-hexane (TLH), chloroform (TLC), ethyl acetate (TLE) and n-butanol (TLB) while the remaining portion after filtration was used as residual aqueous fraction (TLA). The extract and fractions were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The results showed the existence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, phlobatannins, tannins and terpenoids in TLM. Presence of anthraquinones and phlobatannins were not recorded in all fractions. The total phenolic contents (TPC) (121.9 ± 3.1 mg GAE/g extract) of TLM while total flavonoid contents (TFC) of TLE (60.9 ± 2.2 mg RTE/g extract), TLM (59.6 ± 1.5 mg RTE/g extract) and TLB (55.0 ± 2.5 mg RTE/g extract) were found significantly higher as compared to other solvent fractions. The data of LC-MS profile showed the existence of 13 flavonoids of which luteolin 7-O-glucoside, luteolin-O-pentoside, myricetin, apigenin derivative (apigenin +180), luteolin and apigenin 7-O-rutinoside were found common to most of the plant fractions. GC-MS analysis of TLM yielded 30 compounds of which di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (45.93%) and triethylene glycol (18.77%) were major constituents whereas minor components were oleic acid, olein, 2-mono- and stigmasterol. The in vitro free-radical–scavenging activity of TLM and fractions was demonstrated for DPPH, ABTS, superoxide, •HO, H2O2, phosphomolybdenum, β-carotene bleaching, reducing power and iron chelating efficiency. TLM and all of its fractions exhibited potent free radical scavenging activities. The antibacterial activity of extract/fractions was assessed by measuring the inhibition zone diameters and by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The extract/fractions of T. leptophylla showed equal effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the MIC values, the most active were the TLM, TLH and TLA. Antifungal activity of extract/fractions, using agar tube dilution technique, was expressed in terms of mycelial growth inhibition. Against different fungal strains TLE, TLB and TLH showed distinct effectiveness, followed by TLM and TLC. Brine shrimp lethality assay was used for cytotoxicity while potato disc assay for antitumor activity. TLM (LD50 75.141) and TLC (LD50 90.656) were more cytotoxic than other fractions while TLM (IC50 114), TLH (IC50 119) and TLE (IC50128) had significant antitumor activity. Single doses of TLM (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) were compared with glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, i.p) for its antihyperglycemic effects against the intraperitoneal injection of 50% dextrose in water (1g/kg bw). Blood glucose levels estimated at 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h and 6h after administration of TLM (100 mg/kg bw) induced significant reduction (P < 0.01-0.001) while 200 mg/kg bw dose of TLM was more comparable to that of glibenclamide. In vivo carbon clearance assay (phagocytosis) and cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression of TLM for immunomodulatory activity exhibited beneficial actions on immunity of immunosuppressed mice, indicating that it possesses a strong immunomodulatory potential. Further, TLM exhibited significant (P < 0.01-0.001) analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities via hot plate, acetic acid induced writhing test and carrageenan induced paw edema in rat models. The antidepressant activity was examined using Forced Swim Test (FST) in rats and this study showed that TLM exerted considerable (P < 0.01-0.001) antidepressant-like activity in FST at the oral dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight in a dose dependent manner. To assess the protective effects of TLM (200, 400 mg/kg bw) against RIPE [Combination of four antituberculosis drugs, rifampicin (R), isoniazid (I), pyrazinamide (P) and ethambutol (E)] induced multiple organ toxicity in mice, TLM was administered to act on liver, kidney, brain, heart and lungs antioxidant status. RIPE administration in mice caused multi organ toxicity predominantly hepto-renal and neurotoxicity. Administration of RIPE caused a marked alteration in all the serum markers of experimental sera. Also the levels of total protein and albumin were significantly decreased in the serum of the RIPE treated animals. The levels of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation were increased in all the tissues exposed to RIPE. Besides, application of RIPE reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes and cellular reserves of glutathione in all the tissues. Concurrent treatment with TLM dose dependently prevented this heave in the levels and restored the antioxidant enzyme and serum marker levels to almost normal. Apart from these, significant histological changes also revealed the protective nature of TLM against RIPE induced morphological derangement in all the tissues studied. Also TLM at both two levels efficiently inhibited DNA fragmentation in mice liver, kidney, brain, cardiac and lung tissues induced during administration of RIPE. Finally, high-throughput assay of inflammation-independent anti-fibrotic activities based on TGF-β1-induced total collagen accumulation in normal rat kidney fibroblasts (NRK-49F) was applied to examine the anti-fibrotic activities of TLM. Lactate dehydrogenase release assay and cell detachment index were used to monitor cytotoxicity. The Picro-Sirius red (PSR) Staining was used for the histological visualization of collagen using light microscopy and collagen was quantified by spectrophotometric analysis of PSR staining. TLM demonstrated anti-fibrotic effect at lower concentrations 32.65 and 15.6 μg/ml. TLM at these concentrations successfully suppressed the TGF-β1 induced total collagen accumulation, thus significantly lowered the PSR staining. Also these low concentrations induced little cell detachment and had low cytotoxicity. TLM at higher concentrations 125 mg/ml and 62.5 mg/ml effectively lowered PSR staining but this lowering effect is probably due to the increased cell detachment and high toxicity, thus their anti-fibrotic effect is coincided with cytotoxicity. Overall, results obtained could contribute to a better understanding of the potential health benefit of T. leptophylla. The plant has shown a remarkable antioxidant activity in both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Also the findings on plant‘s potential anti-fibrotic and antimicrobial activity if complied in a usable form may provide a new source of beneficial treatment to overcome the fatal effects of fibrosis and diseases due to microbes.