Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020
The modern agricultural practices have led to improve the contaminated soils with a variety of he... more The modern agricultural practices have led to improve the contaminated soils with a variety of heavy metals that have become a major environmental concern. The use of arbuscular mycorrihizal fungi (AMF) is considered a potential tool for the sustainable agriculture especially in contaminated sites. Moreover, recently, the use of AMF has become a fascinating and multidisciplinary subject for the scientists dealing with plant protection. The present study was carried out to evaluate the interaction among arsenic (As) species, AMF, and two plant species: Pteris vittata and Astragalus sinicus, differing in their metal tolerance. Results about A. sinicus revealed that the biomass was affected as As (III and V) accumulated in the roots of A. sinicus, and in rachis and pinnae of P. vittata. The inoculation of AMF markedly increased the biomass yield of the both plants when exposed to As species. The exposure to the As species resulted variation and non-significant results about antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymes when grown in As stress with and without AMF. The inoculation of AMF under As species improved the organic acids concentrations in both plant species. Overall, the concentration of oxalate acid was more than formic and malic acids; however, AMF inoculation improved more organic acids in A. sinicus. P. vittata exhibited more activities of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymes under As stress with and without AMF than A. sinicus, and hence had a more efficient defense mechanism.
Journal of Environmental & Agricultural Sciences , 2020
The present study was conducted to explore the factors responsible for residents' preparedness ag... more The present study was conducted to explore the factors responsible for residents' preparedness against flood-2010 in selected union councils of District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Extensive field surveys were carried out in the study area and quantitative and qualitative data were collected through pre-designed questionnaires. The results showed that rural communities have reduced resilience against the flood devastation due to limited livelihood options and lack of resources. Primary livelihood sources like livestock farming, agriculture, and personal business were severely affected by floods. According to the vulnerability analysis, widows (33%), physical disability (20%) and children (47%) were the most vulnerable segments of society. Moreover, poor infrastructure developments and limited access to social services further worsened the situation. Based on this research study, it is recommended that an early warning system, diverse and reliable livelihood options, and infrastructure development are needed to decrease the vulnerability of the locals towards natural disasters.
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal with unknown biological role. Interactive effect of Enterobac... more Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal with unknown biological role. Interactive effect of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar was studied on the growth, physiology and antioxidant defense system of Brassica napus under Cd contaminated soil. A multi-metal tolerant endophytic bacterium, Enterobacter sp. MN17, was able to grow in tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium with up to 160, 200, 300, 700, 160 and 400 μg mL À 1 of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn, respectively. Paper and pulp waste biochar was prepared at 450 � C and applied to pots (7 kg soil) at a rate of 1% (w/w), while Cd was spiked at 80 mg kg À 1 soil. Application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar, alone or combined, was found effective in the amelioration of Cd stress. Combined application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar caused the maximum appraisal in shoot and root length (52.5 and 76.5%), fresh and dry weights of shoot (77.1 and 70.7%) and root (81.2 and 57.9%), photosynthetic and transpiration rate (120.2 and 106.6%), stomatal and sub-stomatal conductance (81.3 and 75.5%), chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC) (78.4 and 102.9%) than control. Their combined use showed a significant decrease in electrolyte leakage (EL), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 39.3, 39.4, 39.5, 37.0, 39.0 42.1 and 30.8%, respectively, relative to control. Likewise, the combined application of bacterial strain MN17 and biochar reduced Cd in soil by 45.6%, thereby decreasing its uptake in root and shoot by 40.1 and 38.2%, respectively in Cd contaminated soil. The application of biochar supported the maximum colonization of strain MN17 in the rhizosphere soil, root and shoot tissues. These results reflected that inoculation with Enterobacter sp. MN17 could be an effective approach to accelerate biochar-mediated remediation of Cd contaminated soil for sustainable production of crops.
Weed infestation is among the main biotic factors affecting growth and yield of various crops. Th... more Weed infestation is among the main biotic factors affecting growth and yield of various crops. This issue is more drastic for cereal crops like wheat which is the staple food crop of over 2.5 billion population of the world. One the control strategies is to investigate the distribution pattern of weeds under field conditions. In this regard, a survey study was conducted to investigate the distribution pattern of weed species in wheat crop during 2016-18 in district Khanewal, Punjab Pakistan. Thirty-six weed species distributed among fifteen different families were collected from the study area. Family Poaceae was the predominant with 10 species, while family Asteraceae was the second most dominant family with four weed species. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. was the most frequently found specie with frequency value of 79.1% while Paspalum distichum had the highest importance value index (6.96) among the weeds of the study area. Based on these findings, it is recommended to create awareness among the farmers about the identified weeds so that weed infestation could be controlled with the recommended practices.
The proper design and successful construction of engineered structures require determination of t... more The proper design and successful construction of engineered structures require determination of the engineering properties of the soil. These properties, however, are conventionally determined in the laboratory using soil samples collected from the construction site. The collection of soil samples is generally an expensive and time-consuming activity, while the extraction of an undisturbed soil sample is difficult. Furthermore, there are wide variations in the temporal and spatial properties of soil and their accurate evaluation requires high-density sampling. Recently, electric resistivity surveying has attracted much attention. It is commonly applied in the analysis of engineering sites, as it is rapid, cost-effective, and non-destructive. Based on this hypothesis, electrical resistivity was measured at four boreholes in the areas surrounding the University of Peshawar using standard methods of resistivity survey, i.e., Schlumberger electrode configuration. The resistivity data that was obtained by vertical electrical sounding (VES) from the fieldwork was correlated with geotechnical data obtained through the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. Electrical resistivity had an inverse relationship with gravimetric moisture content and cohesion, with the highest regression coefficients observed in the case of GYM-UAP and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.97 and 0.96) boreholes, respectively. Moreover, electrical resistivity had a significant linear correlation with the angle of internal friction and standard penetration testN (SPT-N) values, with the highest regression coefficient of GYM-UAP (R2 = 0.99) and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.95), respectively. In conclusion, the obtained relationships between electrical resistivity and different geotechnical properties could be adopted for the assessment of geotechnical properties of soils, especially when many samples are difficult to obtain.
Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 2020
Bad water quality has serious implications for human health, which may include gastrointestinal, ... more Bad water quality has serious implications for human health, which may include gastrointestinal, liver, respiratory diseases and even cancer. In view of drinking water hardness in the study area, it was hypothesized that bad water quality has some association with the renal disorders. The possible association between nephrolithiasis, drinking water quality and diet in human subjects in district Abbottabad, Pakistan was investigated. Drinking water samples were collected from different areas (total number, n=100) and analyzed for various physico-chemical properties like turbidity, electrical conductivity, and pH by using standard methods. The concentration of total hardness ranged from 250 mgL-1 to 800 mgL-1 which exceeded the standard value of 60 mgL-1 and the water was found to contain high content of calcium ions. Kidney stones analysis reports of affected subjects (n=100) were examined for the type of stone. The calculi collected showed various shapes and were composed of calcium oxalate (88%), struvite (4%), uric acid (7%) and mix of calcium oxalate and uric acid (1%). Oxalate rich diet was another important risk factor for nephrolithiasis. The patients were consuming 100-300 mg day-1 of dietary oxalate. In conclusion, the quality of drinking water and diet habits contributed to nephrolithiasis.
International Journal of Agriculture and Biology , 2020
Biochar reduced cadmium uptake and enhanced wheat productivity in alkaline contaminated soil. Abs... more Biochar reduced cadmium uptake and enhanced wheat productivity in alkaline contaminated soil. Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal present in the environment which causes severe environmental, nutritional, and ecological losses. A pot incubation study was conducted to assess the role of biochar derived from various organic feedstock's [poultry manure (PM), farmyard manure (FYM) and sugarcane press mud (PS)] and dosages (0, 2.5 and 5 g kg-1 soil of each) to immobilize Cd (5 mg kg-1) in Cd polluted soil. Moreover, impact of applied biochar to reduce the bioavailability of Cd in wheat tissues and to improve wheat growth and yield was also observed. Among all type of applied biochar, application of farmyard manure (FYM) derived biochar improved tillers population (77%), chlorophyll SPAD value (74%), plant height (69), grains yield (77%) and biological yield (82%) of wheat. Moreover, FYM derived biochar lowered the Cd uptake and its translocation from roots (71-92%) shoots (82-92%), and grains (90-96%) as compared with control. While in Cd-contaminated soil without biochar application, the Cd concentration in roots, shoots and grains were 1.4, 1.14 and 0.9 mg kg-1 of dry matter, respectively. Overall, FYM derived biochar, applied at 5 g kg-1 of soil performed better in reducing the Cd toxicities in soil (0.12 mg kg-1) and wheat roots (0.13 mg kg-1), shoots (0.1 mg kg-1) and grains (0.03 mg kg-1) along with higher wheat yield in Cd polluted soil. In conclusion, FYM derived biochar has the potential to remediate Cd toxicities in alkaline polluted soil.
Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural soils has been a significant health concern worldw... more Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural soils has been a significant health concern worldwide due to their persistent and non-biodegradable nature and biomagnification to higher trophic levels. The present study was conducted to assess Cd and Pb concentrations in soil samples collected from potato growing areas in Thall, Dir-Kohistan, and to determine their associated health and ecological risks. The contamination factor calculated for Cd (0 to 1.74) and Pb (0 to 0.91) showed their moderate to low contamination in the study area. Geo-accumulation indices of Cd and Pb were less than 1, indicating moderate soil pollution of these HM in the study area. However, the ecological riskfactor (Eri) of Cd was greater than 40 for only three soil
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Nickel (Ni) bioavailable fraction in the soil is of utmost importance because of its involvement ... more Nickel (Ni) bioavailable fraction in the soil is of utmost importance because of its involvement in plant growth and environmental feedbacks. High concentrations of Ni in the soil environment, especially in the root zone, may retard plant growth that ultimately results in reduced plant biomass and yield. However, endophytic microorganisms have great potential to reduce the toxicity of Ni, especially when applied together with zeolite. The present research work was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of an endophytic bacterium Caulobacter sp. MN13 in combination with zeolite on the physiology, growth, quality, and yield of sesame plant under normal and Ni stressed soil conditions through possible reduction of Ni uptake. Surface sterilized sesame seeds were sown in pots filled with artificially Ni contaminated soil amended with zeolite. Results revealed that plant agronomic attributes such as shoot root dry weight, total number of pods, and 1000-grains weight were increased by 41, 45, 54, and 65%, respectively, over control treatment, with combined application of bacteria and zeolite in Ni contaminated soil. In comparison to control, the gaseous exchange parameters (CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal-sub-stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and vapor pressure) were significantly enhanced by co-application of bacteria and zeolite ranging from 20 to 49% under Ni stress. Moreover, the combined utilization of bacteria and zeolite considerably improved water relations of sesame plant, in terms of relative water content (RWC) and relative membrane permeability (RMP) along with improvement in biochemical components (protein, ash, crude fiber, fat), and micronutrients in normal as well as in Ni contaminated soil. Moreover, the same treatment modulated the Ni-stress in plants through improvement in antioxidant enzymes (AEs) activities along with improved Ni concentration in the soil and different plant tissues. Correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that combined application of metal-tolerant bacterium Caulobacter sp. MN13 and zeolite is the most influential strategy in alleviating Ni-induced stress and subsequent improvement in growth, yield, and physio-biochemical attributes of sesame plant.
Population growth is the ultimate cause of poverty and environmental degradation like air, water ... more Population growth is the ultimate cause of poverty and environmental degradation like air, water and soil pollution. Deforestation , a major factor responsible for environmental degradation is caused due to the use of deforested land for residential requirements of a growing population and also as fuel wood and fodder for cattle. Also, unplanned use of fertile soils/land for this purpose causes a severe loss in the agricultural land, resulting in the decreased area of agricultural crop production and ultimately may lead to a situation to starvation of food. This situation is adverse for developing countries like Pakistan, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy and serves as a source of livelihood for about 75% of the population. According to Thomas Malthus, population increases exponentially while food resources either remain stable or slightly increased, with the prediction that this situation would ultimately lead to starvation. While going deep into the subject matter, it has been found that there is a dire need to sustain agricultural land for safe delivery of food for the growing population of the world. Before we can suggest some remedies to cope this situation, we need to find out the reasons behind this decrease in the agricultural land in detail. The following paragraphs present the reasons in details. Abstract Environmental degradation is a serious threat to the existence of humanity on earth. Anthropogenic activities severely deteriorate our environment through deforestation, unplanned urban area development, pesticide usage, tillage operations, intensive farming, etc. In order to cope these problems, certain strategies should be devised in order to ensure sustainability of agricultural production of safe and healthy food for an ever-increasing population of the world. This paper focuses on the causes of land degradation and recommends perspective solutions for the sustainability of agricultural land.
Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GH... more Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO 2 and methane in the atmosphere. These gases are produced and released as a result of anthropogenic activities and fossil fuel burnings which also result in depletion of soil carbon resources. Biochar has various distinctive properties, which contribute to make it an effective, economical, and eco-friendly approach for soil carbon sequestration. The versatility in physicochemical properties of biochar provides an opportunity to optimize its efficacy to obtain desired benefits. A critical review of the literature indicates that biochar and plant growth-promoting microbes have the potential to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent studies have depicted a significant role of the combined application of plant growth-promoting microbes and biochar on SOC dynamics. In future, these areas need to be explored as these have the potential to improve SOC dynamics and it could be a better strategy to sustain natural resources and ultimately mitigation of the climate change.
Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2020
Biochar is a type of pyrogenic carbon that can potentially contribute to agricultural productivit... more Biochar is a type of pyrogenic carbon that can potentially contribute to agricultural productivity and environment sustainability by increasing remediation of contaminated soil and its reactivity. However, occurrence of biochar aging process disturbs its remediation role, because various surface attributes of biochar happened to be altered through different biotic and abiotic factors. In current review, several important factors critically affecting the aging process are discussed that includes soil physical, chemical, biological components along with soil temperature. It was noted that aging process in biochar might be accelerated by elevated temperature; soil components protected it mainly by soil organic matter through its interaction with soil microbes. To promote prolong biochar application in nature; aging of biochar can be better managed through its influencing factors.
Purpose Antibiotics are growing environmental contaminants leading to public health concern. Anti... more Purpose Antibiotics are growing environmental contaminants leading to public health concern. Antibiotics are commonly used as growth promoters and therapeutic agents in poultry feed that are not completely metabolized in the body tissues of chicken, get deposited in meat as parent compounds, and ultimately excreted via poultry droppings into the environment. These antibiotics in the soil result into the creation of antibiotic resistance in bacteria via activation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The development of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) lead to huge physical and economic losses, as these bacteria cannot be treated with commonly used antibiotics. Moreover, these antibiotics after entering into food chains seriously affect the human immune system, growth, and metabolism of the body. Therefore, to reduce the future health risks of antibiotics, there is a dire need to understand the fate of poultry antibiotics and spread of ARGs in the soil environment. Materials and methods In this manuscript, we reviewed the existing literature about the antibiotics used in the poultry sector, soil contamination through application of poultry manures, and development of ARB in environment. An attempt has been done to present a better understanding of emerging contaminants (ARGs, ARB) in the soil environment and their associated human health effects. Results and discussion In this paper, we summarized the use of antibiotics in the poultry sector, persistence of antibiotics in animal body, and their release into environment. Transfer mechanism of antibiotics and their metabolites to the human body and their fatal effects have been investigated. Developments of ARB and ARGs in the soil due to excessive use of veterinary antibiotics have been highlighted. Conclusions Poultry antibiotics are causing human health risks by development of ARGs and ARB. Such antibiotic resistance cannot be treated with common antibiotics. Therefore, effective measures are needed to control this emerging problem by improving the efficiency of antibiotics, reducing the spread of resistance genes, and proper monitoring of antibiotics in poultry feed and manure. Manure composting and biochar application are the possible ways to reduce the risk and spread of ARGs in environment due to manure application in agriculture field. The pathways that allow antibiotic, ARGs, and ARB to move through the environment are not fully understood and there is a need for further research to make clear the reservoirs and routes of antibiotic-related contaminants in the ecosystem.
Climatic changes due to global warming have been a great challenge for sustainable agriculture (I... more Climatic changes due to global warming have been a great challenge for sustainable agriculture (IPCC, 2014). Crop adaptation to changing environments will ensure food security in the future, as climate change models around the world have predicted with great certainty the occurrence of heat stress episodes that will badly impact crop productivity (Battisti and Naylor, 2009; Teixeira et al., 2013; Challinor et al., 2014). During this century, heat stress is expected to be a defning environmental change in many regions of the world. Moreover, disruption of climates and increased frequency of drought and storm events with an increase in temperature are expected to reduce crop productivity (Figure 5.1). Many factors have been found to be responsible for this occurrence of frequent and increased heat stress episodes. For example, the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere has increased from 280 to 400 ppm since the pre-industrial period and is expected to reach 700 ppm, resulting in a temperature increase of 2°C–6°C in Europe (IPCC, 2013). Frequent and increased heat stress episodes are likely to occur and would result in the shifting or even complete extinction of many species (Field et al., 2014).
The world population is increasing day by day, demanding more food to be produced from the limite... more The world population is increasing day by day, demanding more food to be produced from the limited resources available. The increasing demand for food is being fulflled through intensive farming, which otherwise requires more fertilizers and pesticides to be applied. This extensive and unavoidable use of these amendments is causing environmental pollution in the form of greater utilization of fossil fuels and eutrophication through extensive use of fertilizers, thereby producing more pollution and causing environmental threats. There is a dire need to produce alternatives to the conventional amendments in the form of fertilizers and pesticides which do little harm to the environment and have more capacity to produce optimum crop yields, ensuring soil health and quality. In this regard, nanotechnology in the form of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides could be a great step towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (Ditta 2012; Ditta et al. 2015; Ditta and Arshad 2016).
Soil acts as a sink for a number of organic and inorganic pollutants, through which these enter i... more Soil acts as a sink for a number of organic and inorganic pollutants, through which these enter into the food chain and become a potential source of human diseases. Heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) and metalloid (As, Sb) contamination of soil resources is increasing due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Currently, metal(loid) accumulation is one of the most serious environmental concerns owing to their toxicity to crops. Agronomic crops, mainly cereals (wheat, Triticum aestivum; maize, Zea mays; rice, Oryza sativa), are cultivated on large area and, thereby, are more vulnerable to metal(loid) toxicity, affecting crop growth (seed germination, root/shoot length, and biomass), physiology (water relation, pigmentation, photosynthetic machinery), and metabolic processes (reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein degradation). However, to counter these anomalies, crops are equipped with antioxidants (CAT, POD, SOD, APX, GR, proline, phenolics) to detoxify metal-induced ROS and proteins (phytochelatins, PCs; metallothioneins, MTs) to sequester metal(loid)s. Thus, further insight into these processes is important to exploit better metal-contaminated areas for raising crops, generate revenue, and feed ever-increasing population. Therefore, we present an overview of heavy metal(loid) pollution in soil; their toxicity to cereals (wheat, maize, rice) at morphological, physiological, and cellular levels; and their tolerance mechanisms. At the end, we explore the symbiotic association of cereal crops to a microbe in scavenging metal toxicity.
Nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary science in order to fulfill the demand of ever-incr... more Nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary science in order to fulfill the demand of ever-increasing population of the world, which is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, for more food (United Nations, 2015). Soil fertility and productivity of farmlands around the world have been severely affected due to anthropogenic activities as well as societal changes in lifestyle. In near future, these changes may prove catastrophe leading to famine and hunger, especially in the developing countries of the world. Therefore, a serious attention must be provoked in order to cope with these expected catastrophes and ultimately leading to sustainable agriculture. In this regard, nanotechnology has the potential to meet the future demands of food for increasing human population of the world through precision agriculture. This technology has added value to the sustainable agriculture via efficiently exploiting the properties of materials at nanoscale (Ditta, 2012; Ditta et al., 2015; Ditta and Arshad, 2016). Hence, this technology has proved economical for the farmers and uplifted the value of crop production without harming our environment with any type of pollution (Subramanian and Tarafdar, 2011).
Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, Jan 2, 2018
A variety of remediation approaches have been applied to the heavy metals-contaminated soils, how... more A variety of remediation approaches have been applied to the heavy metals-contaminated soils, however, the immobilization of metals in co-contaminated soils still not cleared. Therefore, an incubation study was conducted to evaluate the instantaneous effects of different concentrations of biochar (BC), slag (SL) and Fe-Mn ore (FMO) on immobilization of Pb and Cd through the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) by following the the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), CaCl2 and NH4NO3. The sequential extraction of BCR showed decrease in acid soluble fractions, while the residual proportions of Pb and Cd were enhanced with increasing concentrations of SL and BC. Addition of BC significantly lowered the extractable fractions of both metals by TCLP, NH4NO3 and CaCl2 as compared to SL and FMO. Among all amendments, BC incorporation into co-contaminated soil offered promising results for Pb and Cd immobilization. Overall, all amendments showed positive and long-term ...
A B S T R A C T Fuel security, economics and climate change issues are creating a requirement for... more A B S T R A C T Fuel security, economics and climate change issues are creating a requirement for alternative renewable fuels. Bioethanol produced by algal biomass is becoming increasingly popular all over the world due to the sustainability of feed stock and environmentally friendly nature. This review paper describes the bioethanol production technology from algae using various cultivation, harvesting, extraction and commercialization techniques and its environmental perspectives. The economic sustainability of algae-derived bioethanol biofuel depends on the cost of production that could be minimized by producing valuable secondary by-products, which is the aim of current algal biofuel research. Future technologies with sufficient potential for maximum extraction capacity and minimal downstream processing using low cost feedstock will address the cost-effectiveness of renewable bioethanol biofuel.
Organic Fertilizers - From Basic Concepts to Applied Outcomes, 2016
Sustainable agriculture is essential for a positive relationship between supply and demand of foo... more Sustainable agriculture is essential for a positive relationship between supply and demand of food for the growing world population. This relationship was found to be affected by many environmental factors, including biotic and abiotic. From the point of view of crop nutrition, sustainability in the supply of essential nutrients particularly phosphorus is vital. Due to the energy crisis, the fluctuation in the prices of chemical fertilizers, environmental concerns, and cessation in the supply of high quality rock phosphate (RP) are hindering the use of chemical phosphatic fertilizers for sustainable crop production. Therefore, there is great need for a sustainable solution to this problem. It could be solved by employing a strategy to use native low quality RP. It is only possible by composting of organic material in the presence of RP and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. During composting, most of organic P is mineralized. Due to release of organic acids, P availability to crop plants increases. In this chapter, the importance of economical and sustainable sources of P and comparative efficacy of the use of organic fertilizer containing RP for legumes is critically reviewed.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020
The modern agricultural practices have led to improve the contaminated soils with a variety of he... more The modern agricultural practices have led to improve the contaminated soils with a variety of heavy metals that have become a major environmental concern. The use of arbuscular mycorrihizal fungi (AMF) is considered a potential tool for the sustainable agriculture especially in contaminated sites. Moreover, recently, the use of AMF has become a fascinating and multidisciplinary subject for the scientists dealing with plant protection. The present study was carried out to evaluate the interaction among arsenic (As) species, AMF, and two plant species: Pteris vittata and Astragalus sinicus, differing in their metal tolerance. Results about A. sinicus revealed that the biomass was affected as As (III and V) accumulated in the roots of A. sinicus, and in rachis and pinnae of P. vittata. The inoculation of AMF markedly increased the biomass yield of the both plants when exposed to As species. The exposure to the As species resulted variation and non-significant results about antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymes when grown in As stress with and without AMF. The inoculation of AMF under As species improved the organic acids concentrations in both plant species. Overall, the concentration of oxalate acid was more than formic and malic acids; however, AMF inoculation improved more organic acids in A. sinicus. P. vittata exhibited more activities of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymes under As stress with and without AMF than A. sinicus, and hence had a more efficient defense mechanism.
Journal of Environmental & Agricultural Sciences , 2020
The present study was conducted to explore the factors responsible for residents' preparedness ag... more The present study was conducted to explore the factors responsible for residents' preparedness against flood-2010 in selected union councils of District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Extensive field surveys were carried out in the study area and quantitative and qualitative data were collected through pre-designed questionnaires. The results showed that rural communities have reduced resilience against the flood devastation due to limited livelihood options and lack of resources. Primary livelihood sources like livestock farming, agriculture, and personal business were severely affected by floods. According to the vulnerability analysis, widows (33%), physical disability (20%) and children (47%) were the most vulnerable segments of society. Moreover, poor infrastructure developments and limited access to social services further worsened the situation. Based on this research study, it is recommended that an early warning system, diverse and reliable livelihood options, and infrastructure development are needed to decrease the vulnerability of the locals towards natural disasters.
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal with unknown biological role. Interactive effect of Enterobac... more Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal with unknown biological role. Interactive effect of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar was studied on the growth, physiology and antioxidant defense system of Brassica napus under Cd contaminated soil. A multi-metal tolerant endophytic bacterium, Enterobacter sp. MN17, was able to grow in tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium with up to 160, 200, 300, 700, 160 and 400 μg mL À 1 of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn, respectively. Paper and pulp waste biochar was prepared at 450 � C and applied to pots (7 kg soil) at a rate of 1% (w/w), while Cd was spiked at 80 mg kg À 1 soil. Application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar, alone or combined, was found effective in the amelioration of Cd stress. Combined application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 and biochar caused the maximum appraisal in shoot and root length (52.5 and 76.5%), fresh and dry weights of shoot (77.1 and 70.7%) and root (81.2 and 57.9%), photosynthetic and transpiration rate (120.2 and 106.6%), stomatal and sub-stomatal conductance (81.3 and 75.5%), chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC) (78.4 and 102.9%) than control. Their combined use showed a significant decrease in electrolyte leakage (EL), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 39.3, 39.4, 39.5, 37.0, 39.0 42.1 and 30.8%, respectively, relative to control. Likewise, the combined application of bacterial strain MN17 and biochar reduced Cd in soil by 45.6%, thereby decreasing its uptake in root and shoot by 40.1 and 38.2%, respectively in Cd contaminated soil. The application of biochar supported the maximum colonization of strain MN17 in the rhizosphere soil, root and shoot tissues. These results reflected that inoculation with Enterobacter sp. MN17 could be an effective approach to accelerate biochar-mediated remediation of Cd contaminated soil for sustainable production of crops.
Weed infestation is among the main biotic factors affecting growth and yield of various crops. Th... more Weed infestation is among the main biotic factors affecting growth and yield of various crops. This issue is more drastic for cereal crops like wheat which is the staple food crop of over 2.5 billion population of the world. One the control strategies is to investigate the distribution pattern of weeds under field conditions. In this regard, a survey study was conducted to investigate the distribution pattern of weed species in wheat crop during 2016-18 in district Khanewal, Punjab Pakistan. Thirty-six weed species distributed among fifteen different families were collected from the study area. Family Poaceae was the predominant with 10 species, while family Asteraceae was the second most dominant family with four weed species. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. was the most frequently found specie with frequency value of 79.1% while Paspalum distichum had the highest importance value index (6.96) among the weeds of the study area. Based on these findings, it is recommended to create awareness among the farmers about the identified weeds so that weed infestation could be controlled with the recommended practices.
The proper design and successful construction of engineered structures require determination of t... more The proper design and successful construction of engineered structures require determination of the engineering properties of the soil. These properties, however, are conventionally determined in the laboratory using soil samples collected from the construction site. The collection of soil samples is generally an expensive and time-consuming activity, while the extraction of an undisturbed soil sample is difficult. Furthermore, there are wide variations in the temporal and spatial properties of soil and their accurate evaluation requires high-density sampling. Recently, electric resistivity surveying has attracted much attention. It is commonly applied in the analysis of engineering sites, as it is rapid, cost-effective, and non-destructive. Based on this hypothesis, electrical resistivity was measured at four boreholes in the areas surrounding the University of Peshawar using standard methods of resistivity survey, i.e., Schlumberger electrode configuration. The resistivity data that was obtained by vertical electrical sounding (VES) from the fieldwork was correlated with geotechnical data obtained through the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. Electrical resistivity had an inverse relationship with gravimetric moisture content and cohesion, with the highest regression coefficients observed in the case of GYM-UAP and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.97 and 0.96) boreholes, respectively. Moreover, electrical resistivity had a significant linear correlation with the angle of internal friction and standard penetration testN (SPT-N) values, with the highest regression coefficient of GYM-UAP (R2 = 0.99) and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.95), respectively. In conclusion, the obtained relationships between electrical resistivity and different geotechnical properties could be adopted for the assessment of geotechnical properties of soils, especially when many samples are difficult to obtain.
Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 2020
Bad water quality has serious implications for human health, which may include gastrointestinal, ... more Bad water quality has serious implications for human health, which may include gastrointestinal, liver, respiratory diseases and even cancer. In view of drinking water hardness in the study area, it was hypothesized that bad water quality has some association with the renal disorders. The possible association between nephrolithiasis, drinking water quality and diet in human subjects in district Abbottabad, Pakistan was investigated. Drinking water samples were collected from different areas (total number, n=100) and analyzed for various physico-chemical properties like turbidity, electrical conductivity, and pH by using standard methods. The concentration of total hardness ranged from 250 mgL-1 to 800 mgL-1 which exceeded the standard value of 60 mgL-1 and the water was found to contain high content of calcium ions. Kidney stones analysis reports of affected subjects (n=100) were examined for the type of stone. The calculi collected showed various shapes and were composed of calcium oxalate (88%), struvite (4%), uric acid (7%) and mix of calcium oxalate and uric acid (1%). Oxalate rich diet was another important risk factor for nephrolithiasis. The patients were consuming 100-300 mg day-1 of dietary oxalate. In conclusion, the quality of drinking water and diet habits contributed to nephrolithiasis.
International Journal of Agriculture and Biology , 2020
Biochar reduced cadmium uptake and enhanced wheat productivity in alkaline contaminated soil. Abs... more Biochar reduced cadmium uptake and enhanced wheat productivity in alkaline contaminated soil. Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal present in the environment which causes severe environmental, nutritional, and ecological losses. A pot incubation study was conducted to assess the role of biochar derived from various organic feedstock's [poultry manure (PM), farmyard manure (FYM) and sugarcane press mud (PS)] and dosages (0, 2.5 and 5 g kg-1 soil of each) to immobilize Cd (5 mg kg-1) in Cd polluted soil. Moreover, impact of applied biochar to reduce the bioavailability of Cd in wheat tissues and to improve wheat growth and yield was also observed. Among all type of applied biochar, application of farmyard manure (FYM) derived biochar improved tillers population (77%), chlorophyll SPAD value (74%), plant height (69), grains yield (77%) and biological yield (82%) of wheat. Moreover, FYM derived biochar lowered the Cd uptake and its translocation from roots (71-92%) shoots (82-92%), and grains (90-96%) as compared with control. While in Cd-contaminated soil without biochar application, the Cd concentration in roots, shoots and grains were 1.4, 1.14 and 0.9 mg kg-1 of dry matter, respectively. Overall, FYM derived biochar, applied at 5 g kg-1 of soil performed better in reducing the Cd toxicities in soil (0.12 mg kg-1) and wheat roots (0.13 mg kg-1), shoots (0.1 mg kg-1) and grains (0.03 mg kg-1) along with higher wheat yield in Cd polluted soil. In conclusion, FYM derived biochar has the potential to remediate Cd toxicities in alkaline polluted soil.
Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural soils has been a significant health concern worldw... more Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural soils has been a significant health concern worldwide due to their persistent and non-biodegradable nature and biomagnification to higher trophic levels. The present study was conducted to assess Cd and Pb concentrations in soil samples collected from potato growing areas in Thall, Dir-Kohistan, and to determine their associated health and ecological risks. The contamination factor calculated for Cd (0 to 1.74) and Pb (0 to 0.91) showed their moderate to low contamination in the study area. Geo-accumulation indices of Cd and Pb were less than 1, indicating moderate soil pollution of these HM in the study area. However, the ecological riskfactor (Eri) of Cd was greater than 40 for only three soil
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Nickel (Ni) bioavailable fraction in the soil is of utmost importance because of its involvement ... more Nickel (Ni) bioavailable fraction in the soil is of utmost importance because of its involvement in plant growth and environmental feedbacks. High concentrations of Ni in the soil environment, especially in the root zone, may retard plant growth that ultimately results in reduced plant biomass and yield. However, endophytic microorganisms have great potential to reduce the toxicity of Ni, especially when applied together with zeolite. The present research work was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of an endophytic bacterium Caulobacter sp. MN13 in combination with zeolite on the physiology, growth, quality, and yield of sesame plant under normal and Ni stressed soil conditions through possible reduction of Ni uptake. Surface sterilized sesame seeds were sown in pots filled with artificially Ni contaminated soil amended with zeolite. Results revealed that plant agronomic attributes such as shoot root dry weight, total number of pods, and 1000-grains weight were increased by 41, 45, 54, and 65%, respectively, over control treatment, with combined application of bacteria and zeolite in Ni contaminated soil. In comparison to control, the gaseous exchange parameters (CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal-sub-stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and vapor pressure) were significantly enhanced by co-application of bacteria and zeolite ranging from 20 to 49% under Ni stress. Moreover, the combined utilization of bacteria and zeolite considerably improved water relations of sesame plant, in terms of relative water content (RWC) and relative membrane permeability (RMP) along with improvement in biochemical components (protein, ash, crude fiber, fat), and micronutrients in normal as well as in Ni contaminated soil. Moreover, the same treatment modulated the Ni-stress in plants through improvement in antioxidant enzymes (AEs) activities along with improved Ni concentration in the soil and different plant tissues. Correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that combined application of metal-tolerant bacterium Caulobacter sp. MN13 and zeolite is the most influential strategy in alleviating Ni-induced stress and subsequent improvement in growth, yield, and physio-biochemical attributes of sesame plant.
Population growth is the ultimate cause of poverty and environmental degradation like air, water ... more Population growth is the ultimate cause of poverty and environmental degradation like air, water and soil pollution. Deforestation , a major factor responsible for environmental degradation is caused due to the use of deforested land for residential requirements of a growing population and also as fuel wood and fodder for cattle. Also, unplanned use of fertile soils/land for this purpose causes a severe loss in the agricultural land, resulting in the decreased area of agricultural crop production and ultimately may lead to a situation to starvation of food. This situation is adverse for developing countries like Pakistan, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy and serves as a source of livelihood for about 75% of the population. According to Thomas Malthus, population increases exponentially while food resources either remain stable or slightly increased, with the prediction that this situation would ultimately lead to starvation. While going deep into the subject matter, it has been found that there is a dire need to sustain agricultural land for safe delivery of food for the growing population of the world. Before we can suggest some remedies to cope this situation, we need to find out the reasons behind this decrease in the agricultural land in detail. The following paragraphs present the reasons in details. Abstract Environmental degradation is a serious threat to the existence of humanity on earth. Anthropogenic activities severely deteriorate our environment through deforestation, unplanned urban area development, pesticide usage, tillage operations, intensive farming, etc. In order to cope these problems, certain strategies should be devised in order to ensure sustainability of agricultural production of safe and healthy food for an ever-increasing population of the world. This paper focuses on the causes of land degradation and recommends perspective solutions for the sustainability of agricultural land.
Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GH... more Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO 2 and methane in the atmosphere. These gases are produced and released as a result of anthropogenic activities and fossil fuel burnings which also result in depletion of soil carbon resources. Biochar has various distinctive properties, which contribute to make it an effective, economical, and eco-friendly approach for soil carbon sequestration. The versatility in physicochemical properties of biochar provides an opportunity to optimize its efficacy to obtain desired benefits. A critical review of the literature indicates that biochar and plant growth-promoting microbes have the potential to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent studies have depicted a significant role of the combined application of plant growth-promoting microbes and biochar on SOC dynamics. In future, these areas need to be explored as these have the potential to improve SOC dynamics and it could be a better strategy to sustain natural resources and ultimately mitigation of the climate change.
Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2020
Biochar is a type of pyrogenic carbon that can potentially contribute to agricultural productivit... more Biochar is a type of pyrogenic carbon that can potentially contribute to agricultural productivity and environment sustainability by increasing remediation of contaminated soil and its reactivity. However, occurrence of biochar aging process disturbs its remediation role, because various surface attributes of biochar happened to be altered through different biotic and abiotic factors. In current review, several important factors critically affecting the aging process are discussed that includes soil physical, chemical, biological components along with soil temperature. It was noted that aging process in biochar might be accelerated by elevated temperature; soil components protected it mainly by soil organic matter through its interaction with soil microbes. To promote prolong biochar application in nature; aging of biochar can be better managed through its influencing factors.
Purpose Antibiotics are growing environmental contaminants leading to public health concern. Anti... more Purpose Antibiotics are growing environmental contaminants leading to public health concern. Antibiotics are commonly used as growth promoters and therapeutic agents in poultry feed that are not completely metabolized in the body tissues of chicken, get deposited in meat as parent compounds, and ultimately excreted via poultry droppings into the environment. These antibiotics in the soil result into the creation of antibiotic resistance in bacteria via activation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The development of ARGs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) lead to huge physical and economic losses, as these bacteria cannot be treated with commonly used antibiotics. Moreover, these antibiotics after entering into food chains seriously affect the human immune system, growth, and metabolism of the body. Therefore, to reduce the future health risks of antibiotics, there is a dire need to understand the fate of poultry antibiotics and spread of ARGs in the soil environment. Materials and methods In this manuscript, we reviewed the existing literature about the antibiotics used in the poultry sector, soil contamination through application of poultry manures, and development of ARB in environment. An attempt has been done to present a better understanding of emerging contaminants (ARGs, ARB) in the soil environment and their associated human health effects. Results and discussion In this paper, we summarized the use of antibiotics in the poultry sector, persistence of antibiotics in animal body, and their release into environment. Transfer mechanism of antibiotics and their metabolites to the human body and their fatal effects have been investigated. Developments of ARB and ARGs in the soil due to excessive use of veterinary antibiotics have been highlighted. Conclusions Poultry antibiotics are causing human health risks by development of ARGs and ARB. Such antibiotic resistance cannot be treated with common antibiotics. Therefore, effective measures are needed to control this emerging problem by improving the efficiency of antibiotics, reducing the spread of resistance genes, and proper monitoring of antibiotics in poultry feed and manure. Manure composting and biochar application are the possible ways to reduce the risk and spread of ARGs in environment due to manure application in agriculture field. The pathways that allow antibiotic, ARGs, and ARB to move through the environment are not fully understood and there is a need for further research to make clear the reservoirs and routes of antibiotic-related contaminants in the ecosystem.
Climatic changes due to global warming have been a great challenge for sustainable agriculture (I... more Climatic changes due to global warming have been a great challenge for sustainable agriculture (IPCC, 2014). Crop adaptation to changing environments will ensure food security in the future, as climate change models around the world have predicted with great certainty the occurrence of heat stress episodes that will badly impact crop productivity (Battisti and Naylor, 2009; Teixeira et al., 2013; Challinor et al., 2014). During this century, heat stress is expected to be a defning environmental change in many regions of the world. Moreover, disruption of climates and increased frequency of drought and storm events with an increase in temperature are expected to reduce crop productivity (Figure 5.1). Many factors have been found to be responsible for this occurrence of frequent and increased heat stress episodes. For example, the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere has increased from 280 to 400 ppm since the pre-industrial period and is expected to reach 700 ppm, resulting in a temperature increase of 2°C–6°C in Europe (IPCC, 2013). Frequent and increased heat stress episodes are likely to occur and would result in the shifting or even complete extinction of many species (Field et al., 2014).
The world population is increasing day by day, demanding more food to be produced from the limite... more The world population is increasing day by day, demanding more food to be produced from the limited resources available. The increasing demand for food is being fulflled through intensive farming, which otherwise requires more fertilizers and pesticides to be applied. This extensive and unavoidable use of these amendments is causing environmental pollution in the form of greater utilization of fossil fuels and eutrophication through extensive use of fertilizers, thereby producing more pollution and causing environmental threats. There is a dire need to produce alternatives to the conventional amendments in the form of fertilizers and pesticides which do little harm to the environment and have more capacity to produce optimum crop yields, ensuring soil health and quality. In this regard, nanotechnology in the form of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides could be a great step towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (Ditta 2012; Ditta et al. 2015; Ditta and Arshad 2016).
Soil acts as a sink for a number of organic and inorganic pollutants, through which these enter i... more Soil acts as a sink for a number of organic and inorganic pollutants, through which these enter into the food chain and become a potential source of human diseases. Heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) and metalloid (As, Sb) contamination of soil resources is increasing due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Currently, metal(loid) accumulation is one of the most serious environmental concerns owing to their toxicity to crops. Agronomic crops, mainly cereals (wheat, Triticum aestivum; maize, Zea mays; rice, Oryza sativa), are cultivated on large area and, thereby, are more vulnerable to metal(loid) toxicity, affecting crop growth (seed germination, root/shoot length, and biomass), physiology (water relation, pigmentation, photosynthetic machinery), and metabolic processes (reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein degradation). However, to counter these anomalies, crops are equipped with antioxidants (CAT, POD, SOD, APX, GR, proline, phenolics) to detoxify metal-induced ROS and proteins (phytochelatins, PCs; metallothioneins, MTs) to sequester metal(loid)s. Thus, further insight into these processes is important to exploit better metal-contaminated areas for raising crops, generate revenue, and feed ever-increasing population. Therefore, we present an overview of heavy metal(loid) pollution in soil; their toxicity to cereals (wheat, maize, rice) at morphological, physiological, and cellular levels; and their tolerance mechanisms. At the end, we explore the symbiotic association of cereal crops to a microbe in scavenging metal toxicity.
Nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary science in order to fulfill the demand of ever-incr... more Nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary science in order to fulfill the demand of ever-increasing population of the world, which is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, for more food (United Nations, 2015). Soil fertility and productivity of farmlands around the world have been severely affected due to anthropogenic activities as well as societal changes in lifestyle. In near future, these changes may prove catastrophe leading to famine and hunger, especially in the developing countries of the world. Therefore, a serious attention must be provoked in order to cope with these expected catastrophes and ultimately leading to sustainable agriculture. In this regard, nanotechnology has the potential to meet the future demands of food for increasing human population of the world through precision agriculture. This technology has added value to the sustainable agriculture via efficiently exploiting the properties of materials at nanoscale (Ditta, 2012; Ditta et al., 2015; Ditta and Arshad, 2016). Hence, this technology has proved economical for the farmers and uplifted the value of crop production without harming our environment with any type of pollution (Subramanian and Tarafdar, 2011).
Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, Jan 2, 2018
A variety of remediation approaches have been applied to the heavy metals-contaminated soils, how... more A variety of remediation approaches have been applied to the heavy metals-contaminated soils, however, the immobilization of metals in co-contaminated soils still not cleared. Therefore, an incubation study was conducted to evaluate the instantaneous effects of different concentrations of biochar (BC), slag (SL) and Fe-Mn ore (FMO) on immobilization of Pb and Cd through the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) by following the the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), CaCl2 and NH4NO3. The sequential extraction of BCR showed decrease in acid soluble fractions, while the residual proportions of Pb and Cd were enhanced with increasing concentrations of SL and BC. Addition of BC significantly lowered the extractable fractions of both metals by TCLP, NH4NO3 and CaCl2 as compared to SL and FMO. Among all amendments, BC incorporation into co-contaminated soil offered promising results for Pb and Cd immobilization. Overall, all amendments showed positive and long-term ...
A B S T R A C T Fuel security, economics and climate change issues are creating a requirement for... more A B S T R A C T Fuel security, economics and climate change issues are creating a requirement for alternative renewable fuels. Bioethanol produced by algal biomass is becoming increasingly popular all over the world due to the sustainability of feed stock and environmentally friendly nature. This review paper describes the bioethanol production technology from algae using various cultivation, harvesting, extraction and commercialization techniques and its environmental perspectives. The economic sustainability of algae-derived bioethanol biofuel depends on the cost of production that could be minimized by producing valuable secondary by-products, which is the aim of current algal biofuel research. Future technologies with sufficient potential for maximum extraction capacity and minimal downstream processing using low cost feedstock will address the cost-effectiveness of renewable bioethanol biofuel.
Organic Fertilizers - From Basic Concepts to Applied Outcomes, 2016
Sustainable agriculture is essential for a positive relationship between supply and demand of foo... more Sustainable agriculture is essential for a positive relationship between supply and demand of food for the growing world population. This relationship was found to be affected by many environmental factors, including biotic and abiotic. From the point of view of crop nutrition, sustainability in the supply of essential nutrients particularly phosphorus is vital. Due to the energy crisis, the fluctuation in the prices of chemical fertilizers, environmental concerns, and cessation in the supply of high quality rock phosphate (RP) are hindering the use of chemical phosphatic fertilizers for sustainable crop production. Therefore, there is great need for a sustainable solution to this problem. It could be solved by employing a strategy to use native low quality RP. It is only possible by composting of organic material in the presence of RP and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. During composting, most of organic P is mineralized. Due to release of organic acids, P availability to crop plants increases. In this chapter, the importance of economical and sustainable sources of P and comparative efficacy of the use of organic fertilizer containing RP for legumes is critically reviewed.
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electrical resistivity was measured at four boreholes in the areas surrounding the University of Peshawar using standard methods of resistivity survey, i.e., Schlumberger electrode configuration. The resistivity data that was obtained by vertical electrical sounding (VES) from the fieldwork was correlated with geotechnical data obtained through the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. Electrical resistivity had an inverse relationship with gravimetric moisture content and cohesion, with the highest regression coefficients observed in the case of GYM-UAP and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.97 and 0.96) boreholes, respectively. Moreover, electrical resistivity had a significant linear correlation with the angle of internal friction and standard penetration testN (SPT-N) values, with the highest regression coefficient of GYM-UAP (R2 = 0.99) and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.95), respectively. In conclusion, the obtained relationships between electrical resistivity and different geotechnical properties could be adopted for the assessment of geotechnical properties of soils, especially when many samples are difficult to obtain.
present study was conducted to assess Cd and Pb concentrations in soil samples collected from potato growing areas in Thall, Dir-Kohistan, and to determine their associated health and ecological risks. The contamination factor calculated for Cd (0 to 1.74) and Pb (0 to
0.91) showed their moderate to low contamination in the study area. Geo-accumulation indices of Cd and Pb were less than 1, indicating moderate soil pollution of these HM in the study area. However, the ecological riskfactor (Eri) of Cd was greater than 40 for only three soil
otherwise requires more fertilizers and pesticides to be applied. This extensive and unavoidable use of these amendments is causing environmental pollution in the form of greater utilization of fossil fuels
and eutrophication through extensive use of fertilizers, thereby producing more pollution and causing environmental threats. There is a dire need to produce alternatives to the conventional amendments in
the form of fertilizers and pesticides which do little harm to the environment and have more capacity to produce optimum crop yields, ensuring soil health and quality. In this regard, nanotechnology in the
form of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides could be a great step towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (Ditta 2012; Ditta et al. 2015; Ditta and Arshad 2016).
electrical resistivity was measured at four boreholes in the areas surrounding the University of Peshawar using standard methods of resistivity survey, i.e., Schlumberger electrode configuration. The resistivity data that was obtained by vertical electrical sounding (VES) from the fieldwork was correlated with geotechnical data obtained through the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. Electrical resistivity had an inverse relationship with gravimetric moisture content and cohesion, with the highest regression coefficients observed in the case of GYM-UAP and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.97 and 0.96) boreholes, respectively. Moreover, electrical resistivity had a significant linear correlation with the angle of internal friction and standard penetration testN (SPT-N) values, with the highest regression coefficient of GYM-UAP (R2 = 0.99) and Girls’ Hostel-UAP (R2 = 0.95), respectively. In conclusion, the obtained relationships between electrical resistivity and different geotechnical properties could be adopted for the assessment of geotechnical properties of soils, especially when many samples are difficult to obtain.
present study was conducted to assess Cd and Pb concentrations in soil samples collected from potato growing areas in Thall, Dir-Kohistan, and to determine their associated health and ecological risks. The contamination factor calculated for Cd (0 to 1.74) and Pb (0 to
0.91) showed their moderate to low contamination in the study area. Geo-accumulation indices of Cd and Pb were less than 1, indicating moderate soil pollution of these HM in the study area. However, the ecological riskfactor (Eri) of Cd was greater than 40 for only three soil
otherwise requires more fertilizers and pesticides to be applied. This extensive and unavoidable use of these amendments is causing environmental pollution in the form of greater utilization of fossil fuels
and eutrophication through extensive use of fertilizers, thereby producing more pollution and causing environmental threats. There is a dire need to produce alternatives to the conventional amendments in
the form of fertilizers and pesticides which do little harm to the environment and have more capacity to produce optimum crop yields, ensuring soil health and quality. In this regard, nanotechnology in the
form of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides could be a great step towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (Ditta 2012; Ditta et al. 2015; Ditta and Arshad 2016).