Citrus fruits are prominent crop of tropical and sub-tropical region which require suitable climate for quality production. Kinnow mandarin is dominant cultivated in the plain of the Punjab, Pakistan. Being a perennial crop, citrus is more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions and both physical and biochemical quality parameters are deteriorated by erratic behavior of weather around the year. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of climate change on citrus industry of Pakistan and selected three main citrus groves of the Punjab province. The selected orchards were uniform in age, vigor and planting geometry by using factorial (RCBD) while survey design was performed to assess impact of climate change on Kinnow fruit industry. Climate change has triggered pest's infestation, disease incidence and water use and ultimately increased inputs cost. Heat and drought stress and fog was more observed in Vehari and Toba Tek Singh (TTS) and more yield reduction and low quality was recorded in these districts than Sargodha. Processing cost increased and more export risk was seen with market fluctuation in climate change scenario. Increased in input cost, water requirement of plant, reduction in net return and uncertain market were observed. Climate change has directly affected citrus industry and scientific approach requires addressing these challenges.

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Soil salinity, drought, and increasing temperatures are serious environmental issues that drastically reduce crop productivity worldwide. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is an important crop for food security under the changing climate. This study examined the physio-biochemical responses, plant growth, and grain yield of four quinoa genotypes (A7, Titicaca, Vikinga, and Puno) grown in pots containing normal (non-saline) or salt-affected soil exposed to drought and elevated-temperature treatments. Combinations of drought, salinity, and high-temperature stress decreased plant growth and yield more than the individual stresses. The combined drought, salinity, and heat stress treatment decreased the shoot biomass of A7, Puno, Titicaca, and Vikinga by 27, 36, 41, and 50%, respectively, compared to that of control plants. Similar trends were observed for grain yield, chlorophyll contents, and stomatal conductance. The combined application of these three stresses increased Na concentrations but decreased K concentrations in roots and shoots relative to control. Moreover, in the combined salinity, drought, and high-temperature treatment, A7, Puno, Titicaca, and Vikinga had 7.3-, 6.9-, 8-, and 12.6-fold higher hydrogen peroxide contents than control plants. All four quinoa genotypes increased antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, and POD) to overcome oxidative stress. Despite A7 producing the highest biomass under stress, it did not translate into increased grain production. We conclude that Puno and Titicaca are more tolerant than Vikinga for cultivation in salt-affected soils prone to drought and heat stress.

M illions of people in the world feeding on cereals like wheat and rice (FAO, 2012). After wheat, rice is utmost imperative essential crop of Pakistan. It contributes approximately 0.6 percent in GDP. During 2018-2019 rice was sown on 2810 thousand hectares with production of 7202 thousand tons (Pakistan Economic Survey, 2018-2019). World's population increasing day by day, therefore, food need is also increasing, while the natural resources are same (United Nations, 2012). Malnutrition is a very popular issue of poor communities and due to reduced bioavailability, micronutrients deficiency is also becoming serious issue (Huang et al., 2002). In the soils of Zinc (Zn) deficient areas, Zn deficiency Abstract | Zinc (Zn) is an important microelement not only for animals, plants but for humans as well. Its importance cannot ignore for the plants to improve overall quality and yield. The overall physiology, quality and biochemical parameters also enhanced with optimum application of Zn. By keeping in mind, the facts, it was hypothesized that the use of ZnO (a cheap source of Zn) impregnated urea for rice may enhance grains (paddy) yield. Three types of urea were prepared including Zn coated, bio-activated Zn coated and Zn blended urea at the 1.5% rate of formulate. The bio-activated Zn coated urea was prepared by inoculating the powdered organic material with Zinc solubilizing bacterium and then this material was mixed with ZnO. This bio-active Zn was coated on urea at 1.5% rates to formulate. Moreover, Zn blended urea was prepared by mixing powder ZnO with urea. The comparative efficacies of different types of Zn impregnated urea were compared with ZnSO 4 to grains yield, physiology and biochemistry of rice under field conditions. The results showed that 1.5% bio-activated Zn (ZnO) coated urea performed better in promoting yield and biochemical parameters. About 15 to 20% increase was observed in yield physical, biochemical and quality parameters. This suggests that the application of bio-activated Zn coated urea @ 1.5% is greatly active in enhancing quality and yield of rice crop.

Environmental stresses such as drought, temperature, salinity, air pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, and soil pH are major limiting factors in crop production because they affect almost all plant functions. Soil salinization is a serious stress condition causing major problem for crop productivity. To combat this salinity stress, Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is considered as innovative, effective and ecofriendly approach. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have various direct and indirect mechanisms which can be correlated with their ability to form biofilms, chemotaxis, and the production of exopolysaccharide, indole-3-acetic acids (IAA) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase Investigations on the interaction of PGPR with other microbes and their effect on the physiological response of crop plants under different soil salinity regimes are still at an incipient stage. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of PGPR on lowering down the salt stress. Treatments were control (T1), Salt tolerant isolate KH-1 (T2), Salt tolerant isolate KH-2 (T3), Salt tolerant isolate KH-3 (T4), PGPR-I (Pseudimonas) (T5), PGPR-II (Azotobacter) (T6). Rice was sown under saline conditions at Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian. With the inoculation of salt tolerant PGPR, plant growth and yield was improved. Result showed significant increase in plant height, biomass and yield over control. Inoculation of salt tolerant isolate KH-2 produced maximum grain yield in rice (4267 kg/ha) followed by PGPR-II and it was statistically significant from all other treatments along with control. It is concluded that with the application of salt tolerant isolate (KH-2), there is significant increase in rice production.

This study aimed at exploring the interest of youth, their participation and those factors which are impeding youth involvement in agriculture. This study was conducted in district Faisalabad of Punjab province. Total 432 respondents (aged between 15-29 years) were sampled from thirty-six villages of the study district. Respondents were interviewed through a face-to-face interview technique on an open-ended interview guide. Responses were analyzed through content analysis techniques. Findings of the study indicate that youth regarded the agriculture sector as non-profitable, hence they do not see them joining the agriculture sector as an occupation unless the government give it due attention. High cost of production, crashed marketing system, absence of farmer-friendly policies, environmental issues and lack of support and incentives for the youth were some issues distressing their interest in agriculture. This study recommends that to enhance the youth participation in agriculture, their socio-economic and cognitive limitations should be addressed on priority. Revoking the youth clubs and cooperatives especially in rural areas could be the viable option for the encouragement of youth. Moreover, the farmers' friendly policies are required to make agriculture a lucrative occupation for the youth.

Zinc (Zn) biofortification in staple cereal grains is a low-cost and viable option to overcome the Zn deficiency in humans beings in developing countries. Intensive cropping with no/low micronutrient fertilization has resulted in soil Zn deficiency around the globe. Moreover, the Zn use efficiency of soils is usually low owing to its fixation into unavailable forms. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the integrated effects of urea coated with bioaugmented Zn on wheat growth, yield, and Zn biofortification. The bioaugmented Zn was prepared by inoculating ZnO with Bacillus sp. AZ6. Three levels (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%) of ZnO, bioaugmented Zn, and bioaugmented Zn+organic material were coated on urea fertilizer and applied to investigate the performance of the wheat crop. The applied treatments were compared with absolute control and sole application of ZnSO 4 , and Bacillus sp. AZ6. Results revealed that the application of urea coated with 1.5% bioaugmented Zn significantly increased wheat growth, yield, and Zn biofortification as compared to the sole ZnSO 4 , and Bacillus sp. AZ6 treatments. The application of urea coated with 1.5% bioaugmented Zn improved the accumulation of Zn in shoots and grains by 83.3% and 144.0%, respectively, compared to absolute control. The increase in grain Zn content was owing to the significant reduction in grain phytic acid (69.9%) and phytate:Zn molar ratios (87.6%) compared to absolute control. Therefore, it was concluded that the application of urea coated with bioactivated ZnO can improve Zn biofortification in wheat grain by reducing phytic acid concentrations, consequently fulfilling human Zn needs through the consumption of such Zn enrich wheat grains.

For growth or development of pulses, biotic and abiotic environmental factors are more conspicuous under stress conditions. For the survival against abiotic stresses, salicylic acid (SA) is reported a universal remedy. At the Soil Bacteriology Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, a pot study was conducted to monitor the role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Salicylic acid in chickpea under salt stress. Eight treatments including control PGPR inoculation and Salicylic acid with their different combination were used. Results revealed that positive response of PGPR on productivity of chickpea but more enunciated response about grain yield was observed with the combined application of SA and PGPR compared to control. Growth parameters i.e root length, root mass, number of nodules and shoot mass were highly affected where SA was applied along with PGPR. From the study, it is proposed that under salt stress the combination of SA + PGPR can be a suitable practice for more production of chickpean Pakistan.