Search Results (14)

Both morphological and molecular markers have been extensively used to evaluate genetic diversity; however, molecular markers are considered more reliable and can lead to improved reproductive efficiency. This study utilized inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers to examine the genetic diversity and population structure of thirty mulberry accessions from the districts of Sahiwal and Faisalabad, Pakistan. These mulberry accessions belonged to three species: Morus nigra (n = 13), Morus alba (n = 12), and Morus rubra (n = 5). The use of nine iPBS primers in this study provided a comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity among the selected mulberry accessions. Nine iPBS primers were used in the study and generated 431 bands with allelic frequencies ranging from 21 to 75 and band sizes from 200 to 1500 base pairs. The primer 2230 showed the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 0.47 and the highest Shannon’s information index (I = 0.53). The Morus nigra accessions had the highest levels of expected heterozygosity (He = 0.30), unbiased expected heterozygosity (µHe = 0.33), and Shannon’s information index (I = 0.45). The molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) revealed a high degree of genetic variation, as estimated by the pairwise PhiPT value of 0.21, which was significant at the p < 0.001 *** level. The neighbor joining tree, principal coordinate analysis, and structure analysis grouped the 30 mulberry accessions into four main clusters. The distinct grouping of accessions SWLS14, SWLS6, FSDS30, and SWLS7 validated their notable genetic distinctiveness. Overall, these findings contribute valuable insights into the genetic landscape of mulberry accessions, which are essential for conservation and breeding strategies. Full article

This study explores the spatio-temporal distribution and trends on monthly, seasonal, and annual scales of rainfall in the central Punjab districts of Punjab province in Pakistan by using observation and satellite data products. The daily observed data was acquired from the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) between 1983 and 2020, along with one reanalysis, namely the Climate Hazard Infrared Group Precipitation Station (CHIRPS) and one satellite-based daily Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks climate data record (PERSIANN-CDR) using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) web-based API platform to investigate the spatio-temporal fluctuations and inter-annual variability of rainfall in the study domain. Several statistical indices were employed to check the data similarity between observed and remotely sensed data products and applied to each district. Moreover, non-parametric techniques, i.e., Mann–Kendall (MK) and Sen’s slope estimator were applied to measure the long-term spatio-temporal trends. Remotely sensed data products reveal 422.50 mm (CHIRPS) and 571.08 mm (PERSIANN-CDR) mean annual rainfall in central Punjab. Maximum mean rainfall was witnessed during the monsoon season (70.5%), followed by pre-monsoon (15.2%) and winter (10.2%). Monthly exploration divulges that maximum mean rainfall was noticed in July (26.5%), and the minimum was in November (0.84%). The district-wise rainfall estimation shows maximum rainfall in Sialkot (931.4 mm) and minimum in Pakpattan (289.2 mm). Phase-wise analysis of annual, seasonal, and monthly trends demonstrated a sharp decreasing trend in Phase-1, averaging 3.4 mm/decade and an increasing tendency in Phase-2, averaging 9.1 mm/decade. Maximum seasonal rainfall decreased in phase-1 and increased Phase-2 during monsoon season, averaging 2.1 and 4.7 mm/decade, whereas monthly investigation showed similar phase-wise tendencies in July (1.1 mm/decade) and August (2.3 mm/decade). In addition, as district-wise analyses of annual, seasonal, and monthly trends in the last four decades reveal, the maximum declined trend was in Sialkot (18.5 mm/decade), whereas other districts witnessed an overall increasing trend throughout the years. Out of them, Gujrat district experienced the maximum increasing trend in annual terns (50.81 mm/decade), and Faisalabad (25.45 mm/decade) witnessed this during the monsoon season. The uneven variability and trends have had a crucial imprint on the local environment, mainly in the primary activities. Full article

Empty pesticide container recycling helps control nonpoint source pollution and provides alternative sources for basic materials. This article investigates end users’ adoption of recycling their pesticide container waste and investigates the determinants influencing their adoption. The study uses an extensive farm survey of 210 farmers from the District Faisalabad of the Province of Punjab (Pakistan). It applies the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique to assess the impact of different elements, such as subjective norms, attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention, and environmental concerns, on end users’ adoption regarding recycling of pesticide empty container waste. The results explain that perceived behavioral control and intention to reuse pesticide container waste positively predict end users’ adoption. Furthermore, adoption is positively impacted by attitude, subjective norms, and environmental concerns via the intention to recycle pesticide container waste. The study urges the need to encourage end users to share responsibility for pesticide container waste management for a sustainable society. Full article

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii (an intracellular protozoan) causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals, including humans and dogs. The present study was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of canine toxoplasmosis in the owned and stray populations of dogs in Faisalabad District, Punjab, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Commercially available Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) kits were used for the screening of samples (139 stray and 150 owned), followed by confirmation through ELISA. For the statistical analyses, chi-square was used to correlate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis with various factors. Results: The overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis, determined by the LAT, was 22.5% and, by ELISA, was 21.8%. A nonsignificant association of toxoplasmosis was determined among owned and stray dogs. Among owned dog breeds, Bulldogs showed 28.30% prevalence, and among stray dogs, the highest prevalence was determined in Bhakarwal dogs (39.29%). Young and female dogs showed a slightly higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis than adults and males, respectively. Conclusions: The present study determined by LAT and ELISA in owned dogs showed the same results, while a little variation was found in the stray dogs. It is concluded that both owned and stray dogs are infected with toxoplasmosis in Faisalabad District, and based on this, it is recommended that province-wide epidemiological studies be carried out to examine the prevalence of Toxoplasma and develop policies in order to control toxoplasmosis. Full article

Globally, the demand for food is increasing day by day due to the rapid increase in the human population. Elevated levels of metals and metalloids in soils are biomagnified over time in crops cultivated in metal-contaminated soils, hence posing a risk of food chain contamination. The present investigation aimed to assess metal and metalloid concentrations in soil, water, and rice kernels which are widely cultivated in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan, and to determine the risk to human health. The results revealed that, of five rice varieties, super basmati was the most preferred by farmers due to its yield potential and consumer acceptance due to its taste and to its long kernel. A detailed analysis of metal and metalloid accumulation revealed that their mean concentration fluctuated in the soil, water, and rice samples in the study area. The decreasing trends of heavy metals and metalloids were observed to be Pb > Cu > As > Cr > Cd > Hg > Al in soil samples, Pb > Cr > Cu > Al > As > Hg > Cd in water samples, and Cu > Cr = Pb > Cd = Al > Hg > As in rice kernels. The bioconcentration factor for Cr was the highest in the Faisalabad area among all sampled sites. The pollution load index of As, Cd, and Hg registered the highest values, that were above the recommended safety threshold levels described by World Health Organization. The human health risk index was determined to be low at all sites except for As and Hg. These results point to potential health risks caused by the consumption of fragrant rice by humans. Regular monitoring is recommended to manage and control elevated concentrations and related health hazards as a result of the use of rice contaminated by the accumulation of metals and metalloids. Full article

The rapid increase in population growth due to industrialization and urbanization has resulted in air quality deterioration in Pakistan. Consequently, a considerable increase has been seen in the types of sources of air pollutants. However, the air quality of the country has deteriorated in the absence of management capabilities against air quality. Evidence from numerous governmental organizations and international bodies has specified that the environment, health, and quality of life are at high risk due to air pollution. Although the government of Pakistan established the Pakistan Clean Air Program, along with continuous monitoring stations to manage the quality of ambient air, air quality values have not yet been achieved. The present investigations were made in the city of Faisalabad in selected locations. Sampling of a 24 h average was done for selected sites. The air quality parameters such as NO₂, SO₂, CO_x, O₂, noise level, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were measured at two locations, i.e., Khurrianwala and Liaqatabad in the Faisalabad District. The measured values of air quality parameters were compared with national environmental quality standards (NEQS). Air pollutants such as SPM, SO₂, and noise levels were found to be significantly higher than the 24-h standards of NEQS, which poses harmful effects on the quality of air and health, whereas the O₂ concentration was found to be lower than the normal values, and NO₂ and CO_x values were normal. The SO₂, CO₂, noise level, SPM, and O₂ values ranged from 418–652 and 423–661 µg/m³, 3.03–3.44 and 3.08–3.51 mg/m³, 68–73 and 69–75 dB, 555–667 and 581–682 µg/m³, and 19.5–20 and 19.5–20.3 % for summer and winter season, respectively, as compared to standard values (150 µg/m³, 10 mg/m³, 65 dB, 550 µg/m³ and 21%). After the complete analysis of the selected locations, it was concluded that the ambient air quality of this area is severely degraded due to industrial as well as other commercial activities. These significant variations in air quality parameters suggest that there is a need to check the air quality regularly to take appropriate measures for reducing ambient air pollutants, especially in industrial areas as well as commercial areas. Full article

Groundwater depletion has become a major concern all over the world. Recently, the rapid population growth and need for water and food have placed a massive strain on land and water resources. In this study, groundwater depletion resulting from land-use and climate change was investigated in the Faisalabad district, Pakistan, from 2000 to 2015. A Pearson correlation analysis between climatic parameters and land-use indices with groundwater was conducted to explore the major influencing factors. Interpolation maps of groundwater were generated using the inverse distance weighting interpolation (IDW) method. The Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) of five-year intervals demonstrated a strong increasing trend, whereas the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) presented a declining trend. The results also indicated a significant declining trend in groundwater levels in the region, with the annual average groundwater level decreasing at a rate of approximately 0.11 m/year. Climatic parameters (i.e., precipitation and temperature) further reveal an insignificant increasing trend estimated using the Mann–Kendall test and Sens’s slope. Overall, spatial analysis results showed a statistically significant positive trend in the groundwater level of the Faisalabad district, where the NDBI ratio is high and the NDVI is low, owing to the extensive extraction of groundwater for domestic and industrial use. These findings may be useful for a better understanding of groundwater depletion in densely populated areas and could also aid in devising safety procedures for sustainable groundwater management. Full article

The burgeoning human population exhibited a rapid amplification in demand for timber and fuelwood and as a result, the natural population of the native tree Tecomella undulata reduced rapidly due to its high economic and medicinal significance. The recognition of appropriate regions for threatened plants in the climate change scenario is a fundamental step for the restoration and conservation of biodiversity. The current study predicts the potentially suitable areas in Pakistan for T. undulata restoration. This research identifies the highly appropriate regions for vulnerable T. undulata through the maximum entropy model from MaxEnt software. The model’s Area Under Curve 0.968 suggested its accuracy. The mean temperature of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and mean temperature in the driest quarter significantly shaped the T. undulata distribution. Future suitable areas for T. undulata were made by using RCP (4.5 and 8.5) for the years 2050 and 2070 through 19 bioclimatic variables and 66 occurrence points. The current highly suitable area for T. undulata is approximately 135,749 km² (15.4%) while the unsuitable area identified is approximately 404,917 km² (45.91%). The highly suitable area for T. undulata increases by 3.6–7% under climate change regimes (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The Central Punjab (District Faisalabad, Nankana sahib, Jhang, Kasur, and Okara), Salt Range, Western Khayber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), FATA area, Eastern Balochistan, and Thar and Tharparker in Sindh are the current appropriate habitats for T. undulata. Under all future climatic circumstances, the extremely appropriate area for T. undulata was anticipated to expand, whereas the unsuitable zones would all shrink. The research would be significant for the further development of T. undulata management and conservation techniques. Full article

Background: Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q (query) fever, provokes abortions in ruminants and is suspected to cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in women. Infection of pregnant women is linked with high mortality and morbidity of the fetus and the mother is at high risk to acquire chronic Q fever. This research was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Q fever in women and to detect associated risk factors in four districts of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Methods: A total of 297 blood samples were obtained from 147 pregnant and 150 non-pregnant women of the districts Okara, Jhang, Chiniot and Faisalabad of Punjab, Pakistan. Data related to risk factors and demographic parameters were collected using a questionnaire. Serum samples were screened for phase I and phase II specific IgG antibodies for antigens of phase I and phase II using ELISA tests. Univariate and binary regression were used to analyze important risk factors of Q fever. Results: Twenty-five serum samples (8.4%) were found seropositive for Q fever. Seventeen women were positive for Phase-I and twenty-one were positive for phase-II antibodies. Highest and statistically significant (p < 0.05) seroprevalence of 17.1% was observed in Faisalabad. Age, urbanicity, living status, pregnancy status, abortion history, occupation, and consumption of tap water were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with Q fever, while being aged, urbanity, low income, contact with animals and consumption of tap water was identified as potential risk factors. Conclusions: Q fever is prevalent in women of Pakistan. There is a need for an awareness program about the importance of C. burnetii infections and prevention strategies in women during pregnancy to minimize adverse pregnancy outcomes. Full article

Pakistan is ranked fourth among all the milk-producing countries across the globe. Despite this, livestock farm families are often located far from potential locations for dairy production. This gap exists due to a lack of information regarding recommended dairy production practices. In this modern era, the provision of information necessary for enhanced dairy production could be achieved through the effective use of electronic media. The present study was confined to the district of Faisalabad due to our limited time and economic resources. We aimed to identify farmers’ perceptions of the use of electronic media as a source of reliable information. A total of 165 dairy farmers participated in this research survey after being selected using a simple random sampling technique. The findings of the present research study indicate that a lack of education followed by male–female influences the adoption of electronic media as a potential information tool. The use of mobile phones for obtaining necessary information, on the other hand, was ranked the highest among dairy farmers. It is recommended that dairy farmers’ training includes the effective use of electronic media so that they may equip themselves with advanced dairy production information. Full article

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease of animals and humans caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Brucellae are Gram-negative intracellular bacteria which infect a wide variety of animals including goats, sheep, buffaloes, cows, pigs, and wildlife. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of brucellosis in Central Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1083 blood samples of goats, sheep, buffaloes, and cows were collected from 38 villages of four districts (Kasur, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Okara) of Punjab, Pakistan, and screened for brucellosis by Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and PCR confirmed. Epidemiological, demographic data and GPS coordinates for every sample were collected. By using interpolation of the Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System (Arc GIS), a surface plot was generated applying inverse distance weight (IDW). It was found that 35 (3.23%) serum samples were positive for brucellosis. In eight (61.5%), six (75%), seven (87.5%), and eight (89%) villages, positive goats, sheep, buffaloes, and cattle were detected, respectively. In general, older animals are more often positive for brucellosis. In goats bucks were more often RBPT positive than females while in sheep, buffaloes, and cattle more females were positive. The spatial distribution of brucellosis shows that it is widely distributed in the western region of the study area in goats and in the South-West region in sheep. Similarly, for buffaloes it is restricted to the south-east and north-west regions, and in cattle brucellosis is present in western region of study area only. Reflected by this study, brucellosis poses a risk for livestock in developing countries due to lack of awareness by officials, owners, and consumers, and control measures are missing. A risk map of brucellosis was generated to develop effective strategies for awareness rising and to improve the quality of control programs in Pakistan. Full article

Low planting density and deficient nitrogen application are factors that significantly decrease the yield of pearl millet in Pakistan. Optimizing their management is imperative in increasing millet production efficiency, especially with N fertilization, which can strongly affect hybrid millet response. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (semi-arid) and the Agronomic Research Station, Karor Lal Eason, District Layyah (arid) over two summer seasons (2015 and 2016). The experiment consisted of three intra-row spacings (10, 15, and 20 cm) as main plots, while four nitrogen rates (0, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha⁻¹) were randomized in subplots. The treatments were triplicated each year at both locations. The results depicted a significant change in millet crop development with a change in planting density and nitrogen rate in semi-arid and arid environments. The decrease in planting density resulted 1–2 day(s) delay in 50% flowering, milking, and maturity in semi-arid and arid region during both years of study. Higher dry matter accumulation was observed at medium planting density (15 cm intra-row spacing) and higher levels of nitrogen (250 kg ha⁻¹) at both locations and growing seasons. The yield and attributed yield performed well with 15-cm plant spacing coupled with N application from 150–200 kg ha⁻¹, and resulted in high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The results of the quadratic relationship and economic analysis linked with yield and nitrogen levels at 15-cm spacing showed 176 and 181 kg N ha⁻¹ optimum levels (mean of years) against the economic N levels of 138 and 137 kg N ha⁻¹ for Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) showed 31% and 45% mean excessive N at 200 and 250 kg N ha⁻¹, in Faisalabad and Layyah, respectively. So, it is concluded that the optimum economic level of N should be sought out according to the soil and climate of an area for the production of hybrid pearl millet on a sustainable basis. Full article

The Kyoto Protocol includes agroforestry practices as a suggested approach for mitigating global atmospheric CO₂. Agroforestry systems are a desirable option for mitigating atmospheric CO₂, as they provide numerous secondary benefits, including food, fodder, fuel, increased farm income, biodiversity maintenance, and soil conservation. This research was planned to assess the current carbon storage status and future potential of agroforestry systems in Pakistan through a nondestructive approach (allometric equations) in 14 subdivisions (tehsils) of three selected districts located in the irrigated plains of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1750 plots of 0.405 ha each were selected in a randomized, unbiased sampling to estimate the total number of trees, tree species diversity, diameters at breast height (DBHs), and tree heights. Soil carbon was also measured at 0–30 cm using the Walkley–Black method in a subset of plots. It was found that the current number of trees in farms in the study area varied from 18 to 51 trees/ha, which can be increased to 42–83 trees/ha if all the farmers plant the maximum permissible number of trees along with their crops. The estimated total tree carbon stock ranged from 0.0003 to 8.79 Mgha⁻¹, with the smallest mean value of 0.39 Mgha⁻¹ for tehsil Faisalabad, and the largest mean value of 1.41 Mgha⁻¹ for tehsil Chiniot. The whole study area had an estimated woody vegetation carbon stock of 950,470 Mg and a soil carbon stock of 22,743,008 Mg. If farmers in the study area all increased tree stocking to their average maximum desired stocking, the total tree carbon stock would more than double to 2,497,261 Mg. These results highlight both the current and potential carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry in Pakistan and can be further used in devising strategies for implementing tree planting programs on agricultural lands and designing future carbon sequestration projects in Pakistan. Full article

Urban migration unlocks new employment opportunities for rural dwellers in a productive manner. This study assessed the quality of employment of migrant workers, and its effect on rural households’ welfare. To this end, we used primary data collected from the four major districts of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. These data include 504 immigrant and non-immigrant families in rural areas, and 252 migrant workers in urban destinations. We use IV probit and two-step sequential estimation methods for the empirical analysis. The study provides new insights for migration in Pakistan. First, migrant workers are better off in their new urban settings in terms of improved incomes and living conditions, but their social protection status is still poor. Second, the results of the employment quality models show that migration is a successful strategy for rural households to improve the quality of their employment. In addition, the characteristics of migrants and native households affect the relative improvement in the quality of employment and migrants’ conditions. Third, the results of the propensity score matching technique suggest that migration has a positive impact on rural households’ income, and these impacts are more pronounced in large cities. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the government should invest in quality education in rural areas, and ensure that social security schemes are provided for migrant workers in urban areas. Full article