Aasia Akbar Panhwar

Determination of Ground Water Quality for Agriculture and Drinking Purpose in Sindh, Pakistan

The study was conducted to assess the quality of ground water from different Talukas of district Tando Muhammad Khan for drinking and agriculture purpose. Water samples for determining the water quality were collected in one liter polyethylene bags by observing standard sample collection method. It was ensured that sample collection sites must be at least 500 feet away from each other. Physical and chemical parameters of ground and surface water samples such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Colour, Taste, Odour, Alkalinity as CaCO 3 , Bicarbonate (HCO 3 ), Carbonate (CO 3 ), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Hardness, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Phosphate (PO 4 ), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Arsenic (As) were determined. The study clarified that pH and odour was within the permissible limits in majority of samples whereas, Arsenic (As), Hardness, Sodium (Na), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Taste, Chloride (Cl) and turbidity were beyond the permissible limits set by WHO. The groundwater status in Tando Muhammad Khan district, TDS in 50% samples, Chloride in 54.16% samples, Sulphate in 44.8% samples, Calcium in 38.5% samples, Sodium in 54.16% samples, hardness in 21.88% samples were beyond the WHO’s permissible limits for human consumption.

Analysis of Nutritional Components of Horse Radish Tree Flowers (Moringa oleifera) Wildly Grown in Sindh Province

The present research study was aimed at determining the proximate and mineral composition of horse radish tree flowers by utilizing standard methodologies. The mean moisture content in fresh, thermally dehydrated, curry, shade dried and boiled fresh /processed samples of horse radish tree flowers was 80.98, 5.40, 68.07, 5.84 and 86.26%, respectively. The vegetable had the highest pH, carbohydrates, total solids, nitrogen free extracts and calorific values in thermally dried samples and crude fiber, ash and protein values were higher in shade dried samples. Whereas, fat and total fatty acids were found higher in curry samples. There was a significant presence of dietary essential micro-nutrients. It was therefore revealed that horse radish tree flowers ( Moringa oleifera ) when consumed in curry form could also be a good source of nutrients. The inclusion of horse radish tree flowers into the diet could potentially address some of the challenges, such as health benefits, food security and increase life expectancy in Sindh, Pakistan.

Effect of Different Packaging Materials on Chemical Composition of Fried Onion (Allium cepa L.): A Comparative Study

Onion is a commonly used vegetable in entire world. The onions have been utilized as a main component in many recipes by different cultures for thousands of years. Due to its significant medicinal properties, nutritional and energy value, onions ( Allium cepa L. ) impart numerous health benefits to consumers. Therefore, a comparative study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various packaging materials (T 1 = Polyethylene bags, T 2 = Aluminum foil, T 3 = Butter paper and T 0= without packaging) on physico-chemical characteristics of fried onion. During storageat the Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. The pH value, titratable acidity (%), moisture (%), ash(%) and total carbohydrates were determined. The results indicated that pH value and total carbohydrates content were significantly affected by storage periods (P<0.05); whereas non-significant effects of packaging were found in titratable acidity, moisture, ash content, respectively.

Estimation Spatial Distribution of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) in Groundwater of Tando Muhammad Khan Pakistan

This study was conducted to evaluate factors regulating groundwater quality in an area with agriculture as main use. Water samples for determining the water quality were collected in one liter polyethylene bags by observing standard sample collection method. It was ensured that sample collection sites must be at least 500 feet away from each other. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) were determined from the collected water and it was observed that in Tando Muhammad Khan taluka, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) in the samples ranged from 11.06 to 53.29, the highest (53.29) SAR was in UC Tando Saindad, while lowest (11.06) in the sample collected from UC-2 of Tando Muhammad Khan. The Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) in 36 collected groundwater samples ranged from 0.61 to 5.15 meq/l, the highest (5.15 meq/l) was in UC Tando Saindad, while lowest (0.61) in the sample collected from UC-3 of Tando Muhammad Khan. It was concluded that the SAR levels of groundwater samples indicated an alarming situation and most of the ground-water samples had SAR (<7.5 meq/l) and RSC (<2.0 meq/l) above permissible limits of WHO for agriculture use therefore, it is not suitable for agriculture as well as drinking.

Studies on the Nutritional Characteristics of some Commercial Wheat Varieties of Dry Land and Wet Land Grown in Sindh Province

The present research was carried out to investigate the nutritional characteristics of some commercial wheat varieties of dry land and wet land grown in Sindh province during 2011-12 at Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Four irrigated land (Inqulab, TD-1, Sarsabz and kherman) wheat varieties and four dry land (TK-3, Marvi, PK-85, Sassi) wheat varieties were collected from their respective areas and subjected to chemical analysis. The bio-chemical characteristics of dry land and wet land wheat varieties differed significantly. Chemical analysis indicate that moisture (13.06%), protein (14.83%), dry gluten (9.03%), wet gluten (35.66%), gluten index (73.8%), starch (75.83%) and zeleny (68.66%) contents were recorded higher in wet land wheat varieties than those of dry land wheat varieties with moisture (12.66%), protein (11.9%), dry gluten (8.2%), wet gluten (32.93%), gluten index (64.53%), starch (68.66%) and zeleny (58.33%). This study reveals that availability of water and environmental factors are directly related with the nutritional characteristics of wheat varieties. This study clarify that wet land wheat varieties are better in the context of nutritional qualities.

Investigation of Physical Quality Characteristics of Dry Land and Wet Land Wheat Varieties

The aim of this research study was to determine the physical characteristics of some commercial wheat varieties of dry land and wet land grown in Sindh province. Four irrigated land (Inqulab, TD-1, Kherman, and Sarsabz) wheat varieties and four drought tolerant (TK-3, Marvi, PK-85, Sassi) wheat varieties were collected from their respective areas and subjected to physical analysis. The physical characteristics of dry land and wet land wheat varieties differed significantly. It was observed that dry land wheat varieties higher in length (7.29mm) as compared to wet land wheat varieties (7.05mm). Whereas, wet land wheat varieties higher in breadth (4.97mm), thickness(3.86mm), volume (59.7mm 3 ), geometric mean (10.66mm) and sphericity (1.72%) than those of dry land wheat varieties with breadth (4.15mm), thickness (3.25mm), volume (45.3mm 3 ), geometric mean (9.34mm) and sphericity (1.35%). It is also observed that TKW (47g) of wet land wheat varieties were higher than those of dry land wheat varieties TKW (40.2g). Moreover, falling number (419sec) were recorded higher in wet land wheat varieties than those of dry land wheat varieties falling number (387sec). While, dry land wheat varieties increased in its hardness (55.3%) than those of wet land wheat varieties hardness (51.3%). This study reveals that availability of water and environmental factors are directly related with the nutritional characteristics of wheat varieties. This study revealed that due to more moisture content in wet land wheat varieties TKW, breadth, thickness, volume, geometric mean, falling number and sphericity were recorded as higher than dry land wheat varieties. However, Length and hardness were observed higher in dry land wheat varieties which resulted in better yield of flour as compared with wet land wheat varieties.

Residue Removal of Pesticides from Brinjal Using Different Processing Methods

The present study was conducted on the residual removal of six pesticides (bifenthrin, profenofos, endosulfan, imidacloprid difenthiuron and emamectin benzoate) from brinjal by using various house hold processing methods such as washing, detergent washing, peeling, drying and cooking/frying etc. The data revealed that high amount of all pesticide residues (above MRLs) were present and unfit for human consumption in raw form. From water soluble pesticides diafenthiuron reduced more in blanching as compared with imidacloprid and emamectin benzoate. Frying reduced the residues more effectively, rendering it fit for human consumption. Washing followed by frying reduced the fat soluble residues >70% whereas water soluble pesticide residues >80%. It was concluded that each processing was found to be effective in reduction of pesticides residues.