To cite this paper: Haider, M.U., M. AbstractThis field study was conducted to assess the effect of seed priming and seed size on emergence, growth and productivity of wheat under conventional and conservation tillage during winter season 2012-2013. Seeds of wheat cultivar Punjab-2011 were separated into small sized (1000 grain weight = 22.5 g) and bold sized (1000 grain weight = 44.4 g) seeds by winnowing. Both bold and small sized seeds were soaked in aerated solution of CaCl2 (ψs -1.25 MPa; osmopriming) for 24 h while untreated (dry) seeds were taken as control. Osmoprimed and dry seeds of both sizes were sown under conventional and conservation (zero tillage) tillage practices. Results indicated that wheat sown under conventional tillage observed quick, uniform and better early stand establishment compared with zero tilled wheat. However, seed primed with CaCl2 significantly lowered the days to start emergence, mean emergence time and improved final emergence count compared with dry seeds sown, particularly of zero tilled wheat. Zero tilled crop observed a significant cut in leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation (NAR), while bold seed size and osmopriming improved the LAI, CGR and NAR under both tillage practices, zero tilled wheat in particular. Moreover, zero tilled wheat observed a significant yield penalty due to significant increase in yield related traits; however, osmopriming and bold seed size improved wheat productivity due to substantial expansion in yield related traits under conventional and zero tillage, zero tillage in particular, practices. In conclusion, bold sized seed osmoprimed with CaCl2 was better able to produce higher yield of conventionally tilled and zero tilled wheat.

A basal diet (0.8 g/kg dNa) was formulated in which each of the two sources (NaHCO3 and Na2SO4) were supplemented in such a way to attain four levels (1.7, 2.6, 3.5, and 4.4 g/kg) of total dNa, respectively, under 4×2 factorial arrangement. Eight dietary treatments were replicated four times, with 40 birds in each replicate (n = 1,280). The diets supplemented with Na2SO4 to attain higher levels of dNa showed highest BW gain and feed intake (FI) during d 1 to 10 (interaction effects) while 2.6 g/kg dNa exhibited improved BW gain and gain:feed (FG) during d 11 to 20. Linear rise in daily water intake (DWI) was associated with diets containing increasing dNa during d 1 to 42 (p≤0.036). During the first 10 d, DWI:FI was found highest in NaHCO3 diets while Na2SO4 diets showed highest DWI:FI during last 10 d of the experiment (p≤0.036). Increasing dNa and changing Na2SO4 with NaHCO3 salt increased pH and resulted in poor growth performance. Dressing weight (p≤0.001) and abdominal fat (p≤0.001; quadratic effect) were reduced, whereas breast (p≤0.001) and thigh (p<0.001) weights were aggravated with increasing dNa (linear effects). Present findings suggested higher levels of dNa from Na2SO4 as the supplemental salt in broiler diets would produce better growth performance, especially in first ten days of life, and improve carcass and body organ characteristics.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Moringa olifera on the growth and gut health of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The feed having 30% crude protein was prepared as an experimental diet with 4%, 8% and 10% M. olifera leaf supplementation, respectively. The control diet was devoid of M. olifera leaves. The 10 weeks feeding trial was carried out on 60 fish in aquaria. Fish was fed @ 3% of body weight twice a day. Diet with the high level of inclusion of M. olifera leaves significantly increased the growth rate, Survival Rate (SR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) in all treatment groups compared to the control group. Similarly, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) gradually decreased and found highly-significant. To check the gut health of the Tilapia, random samples were selected and dissected. Nutrient agar was used as culture media to check the growth of bacteria. Pour Plate Method was used for viable colonies count by colony counter. Through staining method, the different bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were identify abundantly in the intestine of control diet fish but less number present in treatment diets groups. These results showed that M. olifera leaves up to 10% of dietary protein can be used for Nile tilapia for significant growth and healthy gut microbiota of fish.

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The study investigated the effect of supplementation of Vitamin E, Zn and Cr on growth performance and hematological characteristics of broiler chickens. The 240 day old Cobb 400 chicks were randomly distributed in eight groups consisting of 30 chicks in each. These chicks were kept on deep litter houses comprising of wood shavings. The supplementation of Vitamin E, zinc and chromium either individually or in combination improved the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain in broiler chicks. The body weight of broiler chickens at different age from day old to the 6 th week were significantly different among treatments. The highest body weight was recorded in T8 groups. Heamoglobin, red blood corpuscles and white blood cells levels increased whereas heterophil: lymphocyte ratio statistically decreased with vitamin E, zinc or chromium supplemented groups either individually or in combinations.

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The impact of fish oil concentration on the oxidative stability of microcapsules through the spray drying process using chitosan and maltodextrin as wall material was studied. Emulsions were prepared with different Tuna fish oil (TFO) content (TFO-10%, TFO20%, TF030% TF0-40%) while wall material concentration was kept constant. Microencapsulated powder resulting from emulsion prepared with high fish oil load have high moisture content, wettability, total oil and low encapsulation efficiency, hygroscopicity and bulk tapped density. Oxidative stability was evaluated periodically by placing microcapsules at room temperature. Microcapsules prepared with TFO-10% presented high oxidative stability in terms of peroxide value (2.94±0.04) and anisidine value (1.54±0.02) after 30 days of storage. It was concluded that optimal amounts of fish oil for microencapsulation are 10% and 20% using chitosan and maltodextrin that extended its shelf life during study period.