Pakistan Journal of Science

ENTERIC METHANE PRODUCTION IN RUMINANTS: ITS EFFECT ON GLOBAL WARMING AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES-A REVIEW

M. Faizan — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Anthropic activities produce around 2/3 share of the total methane emission in the world, with the livestock sector being the primary contributor. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, exhibiting a warming effect more than 21 times that of carbon dioxide, and is produced by microbes called methanogens during anaerobic fermentation. The release of methane from ruminants indicating a loss of feed energy that has the potential to elevate production. Economic and population growth will increase milk and meat demand, increasing CH4 production from the livestock sector. Various approaches including feed manipulation, supplementation of feed additives, management practices, genetic selection and vaccinations all were aimed at mitigating CH4 from the livestock sector. These measures change the composition of rumen and alter the working of methane-producing microbes. The addition of feed additives reduces the CH4 emission but human well-being limits their usage. Methane inhibitors, like those with a hydrogen sink property that has no adverse effects on rumen microbe populations, are considered ideal for reducing emissions. Research also shows that methane emission is a heritable and repeatable trait and that genomic and genetic traits present a considerable opportunity to minimize methane emissions from ruminants the accuracy of methane measurements is crucial and attention to background information in publications regarding measurement context and methods is necessary for comprehensive interpretation of results. Each method for measuring methane emissions from livestock has limitations tied to its original intent of use. Standardization within and between techniques, especially in respiration chambers, SF6 and Greenfeed Emission Monitoring System, can enhance result reliability. However, using these technologies beyond their intended purpose is risky, and extrapolating estimations may lead to unintended consequences. Combining different methods may offer the most comprehensive approach, but further research is needed to validate and compare individual methods, especially in wide-ranging production systems and to develop standardization protocols.

AGGREGATE POTENTIAL OF KHAIRABAD LIMESTONE, KALABAGH-MIANWALI, PAKISTAN

Saif Ur Rehman — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Quality of aggregate material reflects the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of source rock. Limestone is main source of crushed rock aggregate, which is largely used by construction industry. There are few geological formations in Kohat-Potwar province which qualify the specific criteria for utilization as aggregate in building material. Khairabad Limestone exposed in Kalabagh area in Western Salt Range contains colossal quantity of minable aggregates. That’s why, we quantitatively examined this limestone of Paleocene age through several physical, chemical, mineralogical, engineering and mechanical tests to evaluate its aptness as aggregate material. AASHTO, ASTM, BS and NHA designated engineering tests including Los Angles Value (26.59%), Aggregate Impact Value (13.91%), Aggregate Crushing Value (12.84), soundness value (1.84%), coating and stripping of bitumen (96.4%), specific gravity (2.7), water absorption (0.83%), unit weight (1.65 g/cm3), total (elongation + flakiness) index (22.78%), and petrographic analysis (ASR & ACR) revealed that it is highly feasible aggregate resource with suitable properties. Investigated reserve is vast and thick enough to provide aggregate material to nearby local construction as well as national megaprojects. It would be a good contribution to the rising demand of construction materials in the country.

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF DECLINING FISHERIES IN PAKISTAN

Sajid Mehmood Shahzad — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The entry of fishing vessels to the coastal waters of Pakistan stands out extra vividly in relation to the ascending number of declining catches of fish in the country. Unlike other reports, which depend only on media, this study which is qualitative employs local stakeholder insights to bring up this issue in its full context in the Pakistani coastal artisanal fisheries sector. Developing it further brings out the complexity of the study and deconstructs the simplistic narratives, showing the multifaceted difficulties the area is going through. The analysis finds that the interaction of poverty and the degradation of resources is complex in its complexity and dynamic nature of the poverty–credit market relationship. This issue could not only resolve the existing inefficiencies in credit and product markets but also pave the way for more effective interactions between the banks and the public. Besides, fishery degradation is not only a single factor of poverty that necessitates comprehensive actions to improve the overall capability of the communities and to treat the root causes.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND THE ASSOCIATED HEALTH EFFECTS AMONGST WORKERS OF ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY.

M. Asghar, M. Ijaz — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The ambient environment of electronics manufacturing industry is health hazardous. Present study aims to measure environmental conditions with associated health effects on workers of this industry. Parameters of ambient air (temperature, light-intensity, relative humidity, noise) are measured from seven sections (paint plant,foaming, evaporatorfitting, electrical wiring,gas charging, electrical safety testing, and packaging) of the industry. SPSS, IBM 26 is used for data analysis. Chi-square test of association is applied to questionnaire data to analyze the extensiveness of diseases among employees in the working environment. The obtained results are compared with US-OSHA and NEQS standards. Maximum noise level (97.1dB) is at cabinet preassembly section, and lowest value 87.3 in electrical fitting section. Highest values of temperature are 41.8 in foaming section and lowest values are 35.7 in electrical safety testing, exceedingOSHA limits (20-29℃).Furthermore, highest values of relative humidity are 49.9% in evaporator fitting and lowest value 29 in foaming, paint plant and electrical safety testing. Assessment of health impact shows the N=56 workers reported cough, N=47 reported phlegm, N=38 reported chest pain, N=22 reported wheezing and N=23 reported fever in different timings. Environmental monitoring reveals that some of the metrics high in the interior and outdoor environments are also related to health issues and the industry's atmospheric conditions. Workers are uninformed of the health and safety protocols at the workplace and there is a dire need to give training and awareness regarding health and safety issues.

MILK COMPOSITION EVALUATION IN DIFFERENT BREEDS OF LOCAL DAIRY TYPE ANIMALS IN PUNJAB

I. Anwar — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current study was carried out during the reign of July 2022 to June 2023 involving 1682 collected milk samples to evaluate the effect of species on milk composition including fat, protein, solid not fat (SNF) and total solids (TS) from indigenous livestock species of Punjab, Pakistan kept for milk purpose under local conditions including cow, sheep, goat and camel. The study was carried out a Livestock Production Research Institute, Bahadurnagar, Okara. The objective of current study was to investigate the effect of species on composition of milk for. For this purpose the milk samples were collected from different species and breeds within including pure Sahiwal cow, cross bred Sahiwal cow with Friesian, local non-descript cow, Lohi sheep, goat and camels maintained at different livestock experiment stations under Livestock and Dairy development department Punjab, Pakistan. Results showed lacto meter reading (LR) was highest in Lohi sheep 30.02 followed by camel 29.59, buffalo 30.15 and then cow breeds. Milk fat was highest in Lohi sheep 7.17 percent followed by camel 5.63 percent, buffalo 6.76 percent and goat 4.73 percent. Milk fat content of purebred Sahiwal, cross bred Sahiwal and local Qadirabad cow is 4.77, 4.52 and 5.19 percent respectively. Solid not fat (SNF) content was highest in Lohi sheep 8.98 percent followed by Buffalo 8.84 and camel 8.51 percent. SNF content for goat is 7.55 and for purebred Sahiwal, cross bred Sahiwal and local Qadirabad cow is 7.50, 7.28 and 7.79 respectively. Total solids (TS) was found to be highest in Lohi sheep 16.12 followed by buffalo 15.83 and then camel 13.97 and cow. The milk protein content was found to be highest for goat 4.82 percent followed by sheep 4.75, camel 3.95 and then by cow and buffalo.

STUDY OF DIAGNOSIS, ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AND IN-VITRO ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OFSALMONELLA ISOLATED FROM OSTRICH (STRUTHIO CAMELUS)

M. Farooq — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The ostrich meat is considered healthy as it contains low cholesterol and fat levels. Foodborne diseases caused by the bacterium Salmonellaare a significant public health concern. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence, the risk factors involved, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella isolates recovered from captive ostrich feces in the district of Lahore, Pakistan. There is not a single research on this issue in Pakistan up to date in ostrich. A total of 100 ostrich fecal samples were collected- and specifically cultured on Salmonella Shigella agar. The antimicrobial susceptibility was checked for different antibiotics throughthe Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The 21% fecal samples were found positive for Salmonella. The disease was found to besignificantly(p<0.05) associated with risk factors; water type(p=0.027), bird’s capacity(p=0.042), cage hygiene(p=0.024), age of bird(p=0.041) andother bird species around (p=0.031) while enclosure size and diet were found non-significant. The bacterium was found highly susceptible to Amoxicillin followed by Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Cefotaxime, andEnrofloxacin respectively.Further Salmonella species-level diagnostic studies along with susceptibility checks of more therapeutic agents are suggested to future researchers.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE DESERT AREA OF CHOLISTAN, PAKISTAN

H. Bibi — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The medicinal plants are economically beneficial to cure different diseases and have been significant source of many important drugs. The Cholistan desert has arid type climatic conditions with scattered xerophytic vegetation which have been adopted to intensely high temperatures, humidity fluctuations and wide variety of edaphic conditions. In summer, the temperature is extremely high but in winter, it is mostly mild with no frost. Annual rainfall is highly variable both on temporal and spatial scales. The main objective of the present study was to identify the relationship between soil and atmospheric conditions (temperature, rainfall and humidity) on the growth of medicinal plants during winter and summer seasons. Secondary data of rainfall, humidity and temperature was collected from Agriculture extension department of Bahawalpur and Meteorological department, Islamabad. The analysis carried out using quadrate method and locations were marked with Global Positioning System (GPS). The Geographical information system (GIS) software ArcGIS 10.5 used to illustrate the maps of the study area and the quadrates. Four sites were selected on the basis of soil structure Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4. Phytogeographical parameters of plants i.e. frequency, density and cover were recorded during October, 2021, February, 2022 and May, 2022. The relative frequency, relative density, and relative cover were calculated to determine the importance value index (IVI). On the basis of IVI, medicinal plant communities in each quadrat were delineated. The medicinal plant having highest importance value index was considered as leading dominant. Correlation results of Plants with different Soil Types and Rainfall is found positive. The strongest correlation with high R2 value was noted on Interdunal Sandy Soil Area (Q3) and low correlation was existed on Hard Clayey Soil Area (Q4).

DEVELOPING AN INNOVATIVE TRACEABILITY SOLUTION TO TRACE BEEF ORIGIN THROUGH DIFFERENT PHASES OF BEEF VALUE CHAIN USING SMART TECHNOLOGIES

M. Fayyaz — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Beef's rising popularity in Pakistan is evident as consumption pattern of people is progressively shifting towards it. Despite this, the beef trade remains constrained due to consumer distrust. A project, imbedded in eco-friendly principles and environmental biology, sought to boost transparency by capturing beef data throughout production, processing, and distribution stages, permitting consumers to trace its origin. A mobile based traceability app MeaTrax was developed and captured data for 311 beef animals, recording essential attributes; breed, color, age, weight and more. This app, with an eco-friendly focus, generated QR codes for consumer access. Results depicted 49.8% slaughter rate for crossbred animals, with Friesian and Sahiwal breeds exhibiting the highest carcass weight and dressing percentage. Conclusively, MeaTrax traceability app was found an innovative technique, using smart technologies to trace origin and other attributes of beef. This innovation was aimed to improve the beef value chain from farm to fork, contributing to enhance food safety.

Outcrop geology, microfacies analysis and depositional environments of Chorgali Formation from Bhattian and Gharaga, Southern Hazara basin Pakistan

Saif Ur Rehman — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Hazara Basin, Early Eocene is represented by carbonate succession of Chorgali Formation which is mainly composed of limestone with marls and calcareous shale. Limestone is predominantly marly and argillaceous in nature. Two Stratigraphic sections of Chorgali Formation exposed at Gharaga and Bhattian villages have been completely examined and sampled for outcrop characteristics, petrography, microfacies and depositional settings. These sections have both well preserved lower and upper contacts with Early Eocene Margalla Hill limestone and Middle Eocene Kuldana Formation, respectively. The petrographic analyses reveal that Chorgali Formation exposed at Gharaga and Bhattian sections yields abundant Eocene foraminifers along with other fauna and their broken shells. On basis of outcrop data and detailed petrographic analyses, five microfacies are recognized including Nummulites-Lockhartia wackestone to packstone (MF-1), Nummulites- Assilina wackestone to packstone (MF-2), Ostracods-Miliolids packstone (MF-3), Marls Microfacies (MF-4) and Calcareous shale Microfacies (MF-5). Comprehensive microfacies, palaeoecological and outcrop data reveal that deposition of Chorgali Formation was occurred on mid ramp settings with some deposition in attached to partially restricted lagoonal area of inner ramp and proximal part of outer ramp.

EVALUATION OF MECHANIZED SUGARCANE BUD CHIP PLANTATION IN CONTRAST WITH CONVENTIONAL METHOD

A.F. Soomro — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A study conducted at Pakistan Agriculture Research Council-National Sugar and Tropical Horticulture Research Institute, Makli, Thatta during the 2020-2021 cropping season compared Bud chip planting with conventional methods in sugarcane cultivation. Using randomized complete block design, sugarcane varieties (CPF-251, Th-326, and SPSG-26) and planting methods (Bud Chip and sett planting) were evaluated. Results showed Bud chip planting outperformed conventional methods, with T1V2 (Th-326) displaying the highest performance in terms of tillers per plant (10.66), millable canes (73.418 thousand per acre), and cane yield (1311 mounds per acre). Conversely, T2V3 (SPSG-26) displayed the lowest performance. A non-significant interaction between varieties and planting methods was observed, indicating consistent results across experimental parameters. The findings suggest the potential of Bud chip planting technique for enhancing sugarcane yield and productivity, with implications for improving crop management practices and reducing production costs.

APPLICATION OF USING SLAUGHTERHOUSE WASTE FOR BOOSTING THE GROWTH OF SPINACH

F. Ahmed — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Slaughterhouse waste is capable of causing serious bacterial, viral and pathogenic diseases both in humans and animals. Slaughterhouse wastewater contains fat, proteins, suspended solids and diluted blood. Due to this, organic as well as nutrient profusion in wastewater is very high. These partially solubilized residues pose a real threat to human health if left out in riverbeds and other water bodies untreated. Processing of blood requires a high capital investment on heavy instruments for slaughtering and collection of blood. The hazard could be minimized by environmentally friendly and cost-effective disposal methods. This waste could be used for land application via composting, as it is a rich source of primary plant nutrients i.e. N, P and K as well as growth promoting microbes and organic substances. Keeping in view the above-mentioned facts, a pot trial was conducted in the wire house of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences. We mixed the soil with slaughterhouse waste before sowing. Three seedlings of spinach were maintained after germination. Water was applied as needed by the plants. Recommended doses of N, P, and K fertilizers were applied. Data regarding physiological parameters, growth and yield was collected and analyzed at appropriate growth stages. After harvesting, plant tissues (root and leave) and soil samples was subjected to analysis for plant nutrients provision. Analysis of data was done following standard statistical procedure. Slaughterhouse waste improves the plant growth. Results showed that blood, intestine and dry matter significantly affect the plant growth parameter of spinach in natural soil. Plant height was increased up to 92 %, root length 194 %, shoot dry weight 60 % and root dry weight 169 % with blood at (120 ml), intestine (100 g) and dry matter (20 g) as compared to control. All the treatments significantly improved these parameters but blood, intestine and dry matter increased chlorophyll contents 84%, relative water contents 21 %, photosynthetic rate 91%, transpiration rate 95%, and stomatal conductance 58 %, and decreased electrolyte leakage up to 54% in spinach.