Abdul Sattar Shah

Effect of sucrose solution and chemical preservatives on overall quality of strawberry fruit.

This research work was conducted to study the effect of sucrose solution with different chemical preservatives on overall quality of the strawberry fruit kept at ambient temperature. The treatments were : S0 (Control), S1 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (30o brix) + Sodium benzoate 0.1%), S2 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (30o brix) + Potassium sorbate 0.1%), S3 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (40o brix) + Sodium benzoate 0.1%), S4 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (40o brix) + Potassium sorbate 0.1%), S5 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (30o brix) + Sodium benzoate 0.05% + Potassium sorbate 0.05%), S6 (Strawberry fruit + sucrose solution (40o brix) + Sodium benzoate 0.05% + Potassium sorbate 0.05%). All these treatments were examined physicochemically (Titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, TSS, reducing and non-reducing sugar) and organoleptically (Texture, flavor, color and overall acceptability) at each 15 days interval for three months. Storage results shown that Decreased was found in pH from (3.49 to 3.32), ascorbic acid from (54.82 to 30.08 mg/100 g), non-reducing sugar from (20.41 to 13.36%), color score from (9 to 4.96), texture score from (9 to 5.14), flavor score from (9 to 5.23) and overall acceptability score from (9 to 5.40) while increased were found in TSS from (17.17 to 21.01oBrix), titratable acidity from (0.38 to 0.53%) and reducing sugar from (8.35 to 11.16%) throughout storage period. The highest mean value for pH was occurred in treatment S1 (3.45), titratable acidity in S3 (0.50%), TSS in S6 (24.76oBrix), ascorbic acid in S5 (46.30mg/100g), reducing sugar in S6 (11.69%), non-reducing sugar in S1 (19.65%), color in S5 (7.60), texture in S1 and S5 (7.46), flavor in S3 and S5 (7.60) and overall acceptability in S2 (7.83). Statistical results revealed that treatment S5 followed by S1 were found adequate both physicochemically and organoleptically.

Effect of drought stress on tomato cv. Bombino.

To study “the effect of drought stress on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Cv. Bombino” an experiment was conducted at Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Agricultural University Peshawar. Tomato plants were grown in green house under two different conditions of water availability i.e.- controlled and drought. The parameters studied were relative water content (%), proline content (μmoles) and relative growth rate (week?1). Drought stress has significant effect on all parameters studied. The relative water content of plant body decline during drought due to less water availability. In controlled environment, the mean value of relative water content was 89.28 while that observed in drought condition was 87.73. Proline was observed on rise due to continuous decrease in water quantity in cell sap. The value of proline content is 4.4 μmoles g?1 fresh weight in controlled condition whereas that the plants in drought condition had 5.8 μmoles g?1 fresh weight. Due to less water, photosynthesis was negatively affected which resulted in less energy production and finally low growth. In controlled condition the relative growth rate week?1 on fresh weight was 1.37 gm whereas that of plant in drought condition was 0.57 gm.

Water availability and calcium propionate affect fungal population and aflatoxins production in broiler finisher feed during storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium propionate, water activity (aw) and incubation time on the total fungal count and aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) production in the broiler finisher feed. The feed was added with calcium propionate (5 g kg–1), adjusted to 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw and stored for 28 days at 25°C, analysing for mould growth and aflatoxins production every 7 days. Analysis of variance indicated that all the factors (preservative, aw and storage time) alone and in combination significantly (p < 0.001) affected the total fungal count and aflatoxins production in the feed. Minimum total fungal counts (1.99 × 102 CFU g–1) were observed in calcium propionate feed at 0.85 aw on day 1 and the highest (4.36 × 109 CFUs g–1) in control sample at 0.95 aw on day 28 of storage. During the storage period, AFB1 content in control samples increased from 11.35 to 73.44, from 11.58 to 81.81 and from 11.54 to 102.68 ng g–1, whereas in preserved feed the content of B1 increased from 11.47 to 37.83, from 11.54 to 49.07 and from 11.20 to 53.14 ng g–1 at 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw, respectively. Similar patterns were noted for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 contents. All the aflatoxins readily increased over storage time; however, the increase was much slower in preserved feed that contained a lower amount of available water. This study reveals that calcium propionate addition to poultry litter along with water activity amelioration is an effective tool for controlling mould incidence and aflatoxin production in poultry feed.

Wheat phenology and density and fresh and dry weight of weeds as affected by potassium sources levels and tillage practices

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium sources, levels and tillage practice on wheat phenology, weeds density, fresh and dry weight at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during Rabi 2012. Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with split plot arrangement having three replications was used. Tillage practices (chisel plough, mould board plough and rotavator) were allotted to main plots while K sources (Sulphate of Potash-SOP and Muriate of Potash-MOP) with levels (30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha) were applied to sub plots. Among different tillage systems, rotavator has significantly increased weed density (54 weeds m), weeds fresh weight (98 gm) and dry weight (65 gm) as compared to mould board and chisel plough. SOP has significantly delayed anthesis(138 days), grain fill duration (29 days) and physiological maturity (167 days) were taken by subplots which received K in the form of sulphate of potash (SOP). While in case of potassium levels maximum days to anthesis (140), grain fill duration (29) and physiological maturity (168) were counted for K applied at the rate of 120 kg ha. Control plot had resulted minimum values for all aforesaid parameters. It is concluded from the experiment that rotavatorhad increased weeds density, fresh and dry weight. However, on the other hand chisel plough had significantly reduced weed density, fresh and dry weight. It is therefore, chisel plough and SOP at the rate of 60 kg ha is recommended to control weeds and delay wheat phenology.

Impacts of tillage, stubble management, and nitrogen on wheat production and soil properties

Abstract: In continuous cereal-based crop rotation, inappropriate residue management such as burning and removing may deteriorate soil properties and crop productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems (TSs), nitrogen fertilization, and maize (Zea mays L.) stubble management (SM) on subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop and soil properties. The experiment consisted of three TSs, i.e., shallowing with rotavator (0–10 cm), conventional (0–20 cm), and deep tillage (0–30 cm) as main plots, whereas the subplots were SM (removal, burning, or incorporation) with or without 120 kg N ha-1 as urea. The treatments were laid out in a split-plot fashion with whole-plot factor in a randomized complete block design. Shallow tillage (ST) increased wheat yield and soil moisture retention, soil mineral N, total N, and organic carbon. Similarly, stubble incorporation with N fertilization enhanced grain yield and soil properties as compared with the stubble removed or burning treatments. Synergetic effects were noted between ST and residue incorporation with N fertilization for grain yield and soil N response. We conclude that in a cereal-based cropping system, ST and maize stubble incorporation accompanied by N fertilization can improve soil properties and productivity of subsequent wheat crop in existing soil conditions.

Effect of different concentration of guava pulp, apple pulp and sugar solution on the shelf stability of blend leather storage at ambient temperature.

The aim of the study was to evaluate a suitable combination of guava pulp, Apple pulp and sucrose solution for the preparation of guava and apple blend leather, stored at ambient temperature. The treatments were T0, T1 and T2. The samples were wrapped in the aluminum foil and evaluation was carried out for total period of 90 days. Physiochemical analysis, acidity, pH, brix0 and sensory characteristics of color, taste, texture and overall acceptability (using Larmond scale) were evaluated at 15 days interval. The TSS of guava and apple blend pulp was 8 brix0 when sucrose solution was added in different ratio, Then TSS of guava and apple blend leather was increased from 56.53g to 58.37a during storage. Maximum increased was observed T1 (20a%), while lowest value was observed in followed by T0 (13.93f%). The pH of guava and apple blend pulp was 4, then the pH of guava and apple blend leather was decreased from 3.86g to 3.68a for the period of storage. Maximum reduced was perceived in T1 (5.03c%), in compare minimum fall was observed in T0 (4.13f%). The Titratable acidy of guava and apple blend leather was increased from 1.27g to 1.46a for the period of storage. Supreme increased was perceived in T0 (19.47%), while lowest raise was observed in T2 (15.38%). The storage intervals had effect on the mean scores for organolyptic assessment. Mean scores of juries for the color of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 7.33g to 5.27a for the period of storage. Supreme decreased was perceived in T0 (41.67%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (18.75%). Mean totals of juries for the taste of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 6.83g to 4.80a for the period of storage. Maximum reduced was detected in T0 (44.4%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (21.25%). Mean scores of judges for the texture of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 700g to 5.07a for the period of storage. Maximum decreased was perceived in T0 (38%), while lowest fall was observed in T0 (18.75%). Mean scores of juries for the overall acceptability of guava and apple blend leather was reduced from 7.07g to 5.03a throughout the storage. Maximum decreased was perceived in T0 (42.31%), while lowest fall was observed in T2 (20%). Statistically result was showed that the treatment T2 was found most acceptable both Physiochemical and organoleptically.