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Several anthropogenic and natural sources are considered as the primary sources of toxic metals in the environment. The current study investigates the level of heavy metals contamination in the flora associated with serpentine soil along the Mafic and Ultramafic rocks northern-Pakistan. Soil and wild native plant species were collected from chromites mining affected areas and analyzed for heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu and Zn) using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS-PEA-700). The heavy metal concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in mine affected soil as compared to reference soil, however Cr and Ni exceeded maximum allowable limit (250 and 60 mg kg(-1), respectively) set by SEPA for soil. Inter-metal correlations between soil, roots and shoots showed that the sources of contamination of heavy metals were mainly associated with chromites mining. All the plant species accumulated significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals as compared to reference plant. The open dumping of mine wastes can create serious problems (food crops and drinking water contamination with heavy metals) for local community of the study area. The native wild plant species (Nepeta cataria, Impatiens bicolor royle, Tegetis minuta) growing on mining affected sites may be used for soil reclamation contaminated with heavy metals.

Unbalanced use of chemical fertilizer is a problem in the intensive cropping systems on the Northern part of Bangladesh. Proper nutrient management is essential to maximize maize production and sustain agricultural production while minimizing negative impacts on the soil fertility. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutrient dynamics, maize yields and soil fertility in response to balanced fertilization. A field experiment (2009–2010) was conducted at FSRD site Lahirirhat, OFRD, Rangpur during rabi season 2009-2010 to evaluate Maximizing maize production through nutrient management. Five treatments viz.T1= N300P50K150S30, T2=P50K150S30, T3= N300K150S30, T4= N300P50S30 and T5= N300P50K150were evaluated for this purpose. The result indicated that the highest grain yield (8.37 t/ha) was found from T1= N300P50K150S30 treatment. The lowest grain yield (7.33 t/ha) was obtained from T2=P50K150S30 treatment. The gross return (Tk.100107/ha) and gross margin (Tk.44951/ha) was higher with T1 and T3 treated plot. It may be concluded that proper nutrient management may be the good alternatives for maximizing maize yield and management of soil health at Rangpur region in Bangladesh.Progressive Agriculture 27 (4): 428-434, 2016

A field experiment was established to study the impact of foliage fertilization of microelements (Fe and Mo) on lentil at the Agricultural Research Farm Mingora, Swat, Pakistan in 2016-17. All the treatments were assigned in random block design. The results showed that iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo) significantly improved the yield and quality of lentil crop. Based on the obtained results, the majority of the parameters increased with the combined application of Fe and Mo. The combined application of Fe and Mo at 500 and 100 g ha -1 produced the maximum grain yield (1361 kg ha -1 ), biological yield (3126 kg ha -1 ), 1000 grain weight (54.62 g), protein percent (30 %), N uptake (65.32 kg ha -1 ), Fe (48.33 mg/g) and Mo (5.07 mg/g) concentration. Results further revealed that Mo at the rate of 100 g ha -1 significantly enhanced the number of nodules (9.13 plant -1 ) and active nodules (8.03plant -1 ). These results suggested that Fe and Mo in optimal amount solely or as a blend considerably improve the growth, yield and quality of lentil crop and is therefore recommended for the better production of lentil crop in the agro-climatic condition of Swat valley.

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