Saline soils and brackish water are major deterrents to crop production, especially in arid and semi arid areas. A better knowledge of the performance of plants under such conditions may be helpful in identifying suitable species/ genotypes for improved yields. This research aimed at studying the response of some Brassica species at various growth stags (germination, early seedling and maturity) when exposed to different salinity levels. Ten locally adopted genotypes of amphidiploids species of Brassica (five each of Brassica napus and Brassica juncea) obtained from NIA & ARI Tandojam and NIFA Peshawar were used. The studies on germination were conducted in petri dishes which were placed in temperature controlled germinator with four salinity treatments (control, 10, 15 and 20dSm-1 NaCl). The genotypic response at early seedling stage was studied at 1.56, 6.0, 9.0 dSm-1 NaCl in beds filled with fine gravels in net house. These plants were also grown to maturity in a field where salinity ranged from 8.75 to18.88 dSm-1. Among the Brassica juncea genotypes, the genotype Toria selection and Agati sarheen had the best germination followed by NIFA raya & Sultan raya, whereas, the genotype P-78 was found highly sensitive during germination at 20 dSm-1 NaCl salinity level. Among the Brassica napus species, the genotype Wester was least affected by 20 dSm-1 NaCl salinity level, whereas Durr-e- NIFA and Abaseen-95 showed minimum germination. At early seedling stage Sultan raya and Agati sarheen in Brassica juncea, and Wester in Brassica napus performed better than other genotypes at 9 dSm-1 (NaCl) salinity level. It was also observed that the tolerant genotypes had higher K:Na ratio as compared to sensitive ones. In the field no growth was observed above15 dSm-1. Observation recorded in terms of plant height, number of branches plant-1, number of slique plant-1, slique length, grain wt plant-1, grain yield plot-1 and 100 grain wt., showed that among Brassica juncea genotypes, Agati sarheen had < 50% decrease under saline condition in all the growth parameters followed by Sultan raya having < 50% reduction in 7 growth parameters. Whereas, among the Brassica napus genotypes Wester and Abaseen-95 performed better, showing < 50% decrease in all the growth parameters under saline field conditions. The results obtained under natural saline field conditions are to great extent similar to the earlier findings obtained in green house studies. To improve the salt tolerance in Brassica genotypes, nitrogen and potassium were applied exogenously to some selected (tolerant and sensitive) genotypes alone or in various combinations @ 30 mM and 60 mM. Application of these growth promoting chemicals (GPC) improved plant growth under saline environments. Least reduction in different growth parameters was observed in T4 (NH4Cl @ 60 mM), followed by T2 (KCl @ 60 mM). Both these treatments showed comparatively higher increase in organic solutes (proline and glycine betaine) in plants. Sodium accumulation was also low, under T4 treatment followed by T2 treatment. On the basis of these results it can be concluded that application of higher dose of NH4Cl (60mM) and KCl (60 mM) proved suitable stretigies for alleviating the toxic effects of salinity in Brassica species.
The Qur’ān is the divine renewed miracle in which the divine systemic rules stand for the collective good of humanity, the importance of caring for its reading and the significance of the meanings according to time and place and the new circumstances that man lives in. This research stands for analysis the significance contents mentioned in the Qur’ānic verse ﴿فَلا تقل لهمآ أُفٍ﴾. The dimensions include in the verse in terms of rules, judgments, and traditions are detailed in three main themes: firstly, is to read and explore the verse in terms of being a source of fundamentalist rules in the Islamic jurisprudence, which has a multiplicity of Schools of Islamic jurisprudence, in which it recognizes the concept of obedience to parents. Secondly, this verse is a reference to the social norms that governs the behavior of the individual and the society as evidence from the signs of discipline, whose meanings are interpreted by the fact of the children's respect for the parents and the establishment of a successful and balanced society based on family relations. Lastly, inspired from the existence of the significance in this verse to stand on the reality according to the concept of running this significance in the structure of Islamic law, which means the care of the individual and the society based on honor and human dignity. Thoroughly, it is concluded with recommendations in understanding the miraculous meaning of the verse, which ensures the implementation of the rules that the verse included in preserving the feelings of the parents according to the modern concepts of social care and services to preserve the existence of societies based on family relations.
The present study was planned to investigate the effect of agronomic practices on the yield and quality of forage sorghum under rainfed condition, in an effort to strengthen livestock industry in dry areas of the country, and to improve the livelihood of rural masses. The study comprised of two field and two greenhouse experiments. In the first field experiment, three sorghum cultivars, viz., JS-2002, Chakwal sorghum and Local sorghum (check) were sown with three seeding rates (75, 100 and 125 kg ha -1 ) and three nitrogen levels (0, 60 and 120 kg ha -1 ) following RCBD split- split plot design in three replications, during the years 2008 and 2009. Sorghum cultivar JS-2002 performed better with regard to morphology, yield and quality traits as compared to other cultivars. The cultivar JS-2002 also had low hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content at pre-booting, booting as well as 50% heading stage during both years of study. Increasing the nitrogen rate had a positive impact on forage yield as well as quality traits except neutral detergent fibre. HCN increases with the increase of nitrogen levels. The increase of HCN content was 38 and 63% higher with the application of nitrogen at 60 and 120 kg ha -1 when compared with control treatment. Increase in seed rate resulted in an increase in forage yield, while inverse relationships with quality traits were recorded. Second field experiment comprised of three levels of phosphorus (0, 30 and 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ), in combination with three levels of sulphur (0, 20 and 40 kg SO 4 ha -1 ), which were tested at three harvest times (35, 45 and 55 DAE). At different growth xxxstages, morphological, functional growth, yield and quality traits were assessed. The combined effect of delayed harvest, P and S fertilization on sorghum seemed to have significantly increased forage longevity and succulence under rainfed conditions. A third pot experiment was conducted using three sorghum cultivars with three soil moisture levels (30, 50 and 70 percent field capacity) to examine the response of forage sorghum cultivars. Three cultivars significantly differed in their response to moisture. At low moisture (30% FC), they showed very similar crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, specific leaf area, leaf succulence, root and shoot dry weight at harvest. Conversely, at high moisture (70% FC) JS-2002 showed a higher potential than Chakwal sorghum, which in turn surpassed local sorghum. The HCN content was considerably reduced with the progressive increase in soil moisture level and with the advancement of crop growth stage. Local sorghum also showed a higher yield response factor to water, meaning a stronger yield decrease under water deficit. The fourth and last experiment consist of a glasshouse study, carried out in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. The three genotypes (JS-2002, Trudan-8 and Local sorghum) significantly differed under different water regimes with regard to bio-physical, gas exchange, water relation and growth measurements. The cv. JS-2002 proved superior to the other two genotypes in terms of number of leaves, stem diameter, relative water content, leaf area and leaf dry weight, although the hybrid Trudan-8 gave better results for plant height, number of tillers, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, SPAD chlorophyll content, stem dry weight and specific leaf area; while chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf water potential and osmotic potential values were found higher in local sorghum. Bio-physical, gas xxxiexchanges, water relation and growth traits were significantly greater at higher water regime compared to the lower water regime. On the basis of field and glasshouse studies, it is recommended that the livestock producers should be encouraged to use seed of approved cultivars (e.g., JS- 2002) instead of old local races. Beside the agronomic benefits, the approved cultivars possess lower HCN content and thus are safe to feed livestock under dryland conditions. Delayed harvesting will produce safe and good quality feed for livestock. Application of nitrogen fertilizer @ 120 kg ha -1 although enhanced the yield as well as quality of sorghum fodder but the livestock producers are warned to use sorghum forage carefully before at booting stage because of high HCN content.