Salinity is a devastating problem of arid and semi-arid climatic regions with uneven salt accumulation which hinders growth and development of crops. The deleterious effects of salinity mainly depend on level and source of salinity. We hypothesized that types of sodium salt (NaCl and Na2SO4) might cause variable toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) plants. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of different types of sodium salt (NaCl and Na2SO4), each at EC 5 and 10 dS m–1 on growth, physiology and nutrient contents of maize plant grown in earthen pots under wire house conditions. Results revealed toxic effects of salt stress on seed germination, root and shoot growth and biomass. Maize physiology in terms of sub-stomatal CO2 index, chlorophyll and relative water contents, photosynthetic and transpiration rate also reduced under salt stress. Among the types of salt and levels of salinity, NaCl applied at the rate of 10 dS m–1 caused the highest reduction in seed germination, growth and physiology due to high accumulation of Na and Cl ions whereas low in K ion in maize plant tissues. Based on the findings, we do conclude that NaCl applied at the rate of 10 dS m–1 has more negative impact on maize growth and nutrient acquisition than Na2SO4 at same level of salinity.

Legumes compensate mineral fertilizer by fixing nitrogen due to the specialized structures i.e. nodules by Rhizobium species. Literature revealed that legumes fixed nitrogen due to Rhizobium inoculation from 50-300 kg NPK ha-1 year-1. Rhizobium besides nitrogen fixation, solubilized phosphates, produced growth hormones and due to its root colonizing ability improved the growth and yield of non-legumes also and performed as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Study was conducted to assess the relative efficiency of Rhizobium species for the growth and yield of cotton. Different isolates of five species of Rhizobium species responsible for different nodule formation in legumes were assessed for the auxin biosynthesis potential as IAA equivalents and isolates having higher values for IAA equivalents were used for experimentation. Results revealed that isolates of Rhizobium species improved the growth and physiological parameters of cotton. Higher values were root/shoot length and mass were observed with Rhizobium species of berseem (Br5). Bacterial inoculation with isolate (Br5) produced 60.94, 64.40 g shoot/root mass that is 16.70 and 23.80 % higher than control and percent increase improvements of cotton shoot/root length with Br5 i.e. 18.3, 24.8 % higher than that of control. Higher values of IAA equivalents were observed in root/shoot content of cotton with isolate of Br5. Bacterial inoculation improved the plant height, boll weight, number of bolls plant-1 and seed cotton yield with Br5 inoculation. The chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and photo active radiation were also higher in the inoculated treatments. Results of present study clearly demonstrated that different isolates of Rhizobium species improved the growth and yield parameters of cotton and thus Rhizobium sp can be effectively utilized as bacterial inoculants in non-legumes.

The aggravating threat for today's agriculture is provision of food security to ever-escalating population utilizing scarce resources. Water scarcity is restraining humans to produce more from drops of water in place of gallons. Root is present at soil-plant interface and is main water extractor for plant. Its growth pattern varies as soil moisture conditions fluctuates. Present pot study consisting of two factors i.e. organic substrates (Farm manure, Poultry Manure and Molasses) and different water stress levels {50, 75, 100 and 125% of available water contents (AWCs)} using maize as test crop to assess their impact on different growth parameters (especially root growth). The experiment was conducted using completely randomized design CRD under factorial arrangement. Root length (44.5 cm), root fresh & dry biomass (71.1 g and 24.3 g, respectively), root diameter (1.73 mm), root volume (0.24 cm 3) and root length density (7.4 x 10-3 cm cm-3) were observed in farm manure treated pots at 75% AWC that was statistically indistinguishable from all other treatments at same water level and 100% water availability but eloquently greater than plants of all treatments at 50% and 125% available water contents. Shoot length, dry and fresh weights were observed greater in plants having 100% available moistures. They were statistically at par with 75% water treated plants. Comparing treatments for all the parameters in multivariate cluster analysis it was concluded that 75% available water contents produce almost similar to 100% along with the benefit of water security.

A study was carried out to define the analysis of rainfall data in order to estimate its contribution towards crop water requirements to overcome these problems. Rainfall and climatic data was collected from metrological stations, C.P UAF rain gauge (A), (AARI), (B), (CAA), (C) and (WAPDA), (D), Faisalabad of given region and this data was reserved for cross validation. The test station's (A) rainfall data was subjected to double mass curve technique to check its consistency with respect to other rainfall stations (B, C and D) in that area. The results derived by double curve technique were accurate for interested gauge station because there was no any break in curve. Then this consistent data was used to determine effective rainfall. The ET o was established by using penman-monteith method in the course of CROPWAT model and its effect with respect to other parameters like sun shine hour, wind speed, maximum & minimum temperature and rainfall humidity were determined. It was founded that the reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) is more during April to September due to increase in temperature and low in remaining months. After that data was placed in the model to acquire crop water requirement and irrigation of illustrative crops (wheat & maize) from the district. Through which we estimated that 7.5% rainfall for wheat and 15.5% rainfall for maize can contribute in actual irrigation per year. Through which we determined that 92.5 % and 84.5 % irrigation is required for wheat and maize crop respectively.

Herbal plants and their derivatives have been utilized since antiquity in the control and managementof poultry coccidiosis. The best known herbal plants in use against coccidiosis are corn, wheat bran, ricebran, polysaccharides, soya bean, barley, oat, extracts of grape seed, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, Pulsatillakoreana, Sinomenium acutum, Ulmus macrocarpa, Dichroafe brifuga and other botanical antioxidantswhich contain many active compounds. These compounds have been found to possess antiprotozoal, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Currently demand and utilization of these aforesaidherbs has increased because these have been proved successful and effective in control of coccidiosis, eco-friendly and economical. The effective potential of these herbals and derivatives to have been reviewedovercome coccidiosis effectively in a better way than other synthetic products against which resistancehas been developed.

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