No abstract

Our study suggests that somatic chromosomal mutations, especially in exon 6 of Tp53 gene, among esophageal cancer patients of an ethnically homogenous population of Kashmir valley are closely related to continued exposure to various common dietary risk factors, especially hot salty tea, meat, baked bread and "Hakh", that are rich in nitrosoamines and familial cancer history.

No abstract

Uncertainty in future availability of irrigation water and regulation of nutrient amount, management strategies for irrigation and nitrogen (N) are essential to maximize the crop productivity. To study the response of irrigation and N on water productivity and economic return of maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield, an experiment was conducted at Water Management Research Center, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan in 2015 and 2016. Treatments included of full and three reduced levels of irrigation, with four rates of N fertilization. An empirical model was developed using observed grain yield for irrigation and N levels. Results from model and economic analysis showed that the N rates of 235, 229, 233, and 210 kg ha were the most economical optimum N rates to achieve the economic yield of 9321, 8937, 5748, and 3493 kg ha at 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% irrigation levels, respectively. Economic optimum N rates were further explored to find out the optimum level of irrigation as a function of the total water applied using a quadratic equation. The results showed that 520 mm is the optimum level of irrigation for the entire growing season in 2015 and 2016. Results also revealed that yield is not significantly affected by reducing the irrigation from full irrigation to 80% of full irrigation. It is concluded from the study that the relationship between irrigation and N can be used for efficient management of irrigation and N and to reduce the losses of N to avoid the economic loss and environmental hazards. The empirical equation can help farmers to optimize irrigation and N to obtain maximum economic return in semi-arid regions with sandy loam soils.

No abstract

No abstract

There are numerous anticipated effects of climate change (CC) on agriculture in the developing and the developed world. Pakistan is among the top ten most prone nations to CC in the world. The objective of this analysis was to quantify the economic impacts of CC on the agricultural production system and to quantify the impacts of suggested adaptation strategies at the farm level. The study was conducted in the Punjab province's rice-wheat cropping system. For this purpose, climate modeling was carried out by using two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), i.e., RCPs 4.5 and 8.5, and five global circulation models (GCMs). The crop modeling was carried out by using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) and the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop simulation models (CSMs), which were tested on the cross-sectional data of 217 farm households collected from the seven strata in the study area. The socio-economic impacts were calculated using the Multidimensional Impact Assessment Tradeoff Analysis Model (TOA-MD). The results revealed that CC's net economic impact using both RCPs and CSMs was negative. In both CSMs, the poverty status was higher in RCP 8.5 than in RCP 4.5. The adaptation package showed positive results in poverty reduction and improvement in the livelihood conditions of the agricultural households. The adoption rate for DSSAT was about 78%, and for APSIM, it was about 68%. The adaptation benefits observed in DSSAT were higher than in APSIM. The results showed that the suggested adaptations could have a significant impact on the resilience of the atmospheric changes. Therefore, without these adaptation measures, i.e., increase in sowing density, improved cultivars, increase in nitrogen use, and fertigation, there would be negative impacts of CC that would capitalize on livelihood and food security in the study area.

No abstract