Afaq Ahmad Malik

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Lentil Improves Biochemical Characteristics and Yield of Intercropped Wheat Under Low Fertilizer Input

To preserve the soils from deterioration caused by the overuse of fertilizers and also because of the continuous price increase of mineral fertilizers, alternative ways must be adopted to reduce their use in agriculture. On the other hand, the increasing world population demands high crop production to meet the food needs in the future. Intercropping grain legumes and cereals can solve the problem because of its high overall productivity and less fertilizer requirements. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of three fertilizer application rates (N0K0, N20K50, and N40K50) on wheat/lentil intercropping system. Enhancement in chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase activity, nitrite reductase activity, glutamine synthetase activity, glutamate synthase activity, protein content, and seed yield occurred at lower nitrogen level (N20) in sole and intercropped lentil and at higher nitrogen level (N40) in sole wheat. On the other hand, intercropped wheat exhibited maximum productivity at lower nitrogen rate (N20). Intercropping affected biochemical characteristics and yield of wheat and the system-required low fertilizer input, thus reducing negative environmental impacts of agricultural crop production.

Effect of Inorganic and Biological Fertilizer Treatments on Essential Oil Composition of Ruta graveolens L.

Essential oil components in the aerial parts of Ruta graveolens grown in chemical [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S)] and biological (Azospirillum and Glomus) fertilizer treatments were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy GC-MS. Essential oil distilled from control plants was 0.32 ± 0.03% (fresh weight basis), of which n-Hex-4-en-3-one (55.06%); n-Pent-3-one (28.17%); and n-Hex-3-en-2-one (14.07%) were the major components. The essential oil distilled from plants treated with Azospirillum broth amounted to 0.34 ± 0.04%, the major components being n-Hex-4-en-3-one (53.15%); n-Pent-3-one (37.54%); and n-Hex-3-en-2-one (7.05%). Essential oil from plants treated with NPKS amounted to 0.38 ± 0.04%, of which n-Hex-4-en-3-one (51.91%); n-Pent-3-one (36.06%); and n-Hex-3-en-2-one (9.51%) were the major components. Glomus-treated plants yielded 0.46 ± 0.03% essential oil, the major components being n-Hex-4-en-3-one (51.95%); n-Pent-3-one (31.84%); and n-Hex-3-en-2-one (13.45%). The findings suggest that nutritional treatments increased the essential oil concentration in R. graveolens but did not influence its composition, which was mainly composed of hydrocarbon ketones.

Development of organic cultivation of medicinal plants in the North India

Abstract Out of 750,000 known plants in the world, a major part are medicinal and aromatic plants - a source of raw material for folk and documented systems of medicines worldwide. The folk and documented medicine in India use about 6,000 plants, although, less than 50 species have been scientifically studied and cultivated to any sizeable extent. The main factor behind the slow pace of domestication of medicinal plants is the absence of knowledge on cultivation practices and lack of suitable technology. About 90% of the medicinal plants for trade are harvested from the wild and the demand for traditional medicinal plants is increasing rapidly. Continuous exploitation of several medicinal plant species from the wild has resulted in their population decline. Hence, an effective strategy is needed for their sustainable utilization and conservation. Cultivation is the most effective way of conservation. Cultivation can also ensure production of standardized raw materials. Thereby, enhances the quality of the manufactured products. The methods and techniques of modern chemical agriculture cannot be adopted for the cultivation of medicinal plants as they should be free from harmful residues. Pesticides and other harmful chemicals have been detected in some herbal products. Hence, to ensure a safe, residue-free and reliable material for use in herbal drug industry, there is an urgent need to adopt strategies for cultivation of medicinal plants that are consistent with principles of good agricultural practices. Streszczenie Spośród 750 000 znanych roślin na świecie większość stanowią rośliny aromatyczne i lecznicze - źródło surowca dla medycyny ludowej i naukowej na całym świecie. W medycynie ludowej i naukowej w Indiach używa się około 6000 roślin, chociaż opracowano naukowo i uprawia się na mierzalną skalę mniej niż 50 z nich. Głównym powodem wolnego tempa udomowiania roślin leczniczych jest brak wiedzy na temat sposobów uprawy i brak przydatnej technologii. Około 90% roślin leczniczych przeznaczonych na sprzedaż otrzymuje się ze stanowisk naturalnych i popyt na tradycyjne rośliny lecznicze gwałtownie wzrasta. Nieustanna eksploatacja niektórych gatunków w miejscach ich naturalnego występowania spowodowała zmniejszenie ich populacji. Potrzeba zatem efektywnej strategii ich zrównoważonego użycia i ochrony. Najbardziej efektywną metodą ochrony jest uprawa. Uprawa może także zapewnić produkcję wystandaryzowanego surowca, zatem podnosi także jakość produktu przetworzonego. Metody i technologia nowoczesnego rolnictwa z użyciem środków chemicznych nie mogą być zastosowane w uprawie roślin leczniczych, ponieważ powinny one być pozbawione szkodliwych substancji. W niektórych produktach ziołowych wykryto pestycydy i inne szkodliwe substancje chemiczne. Zatem, by zapewnić bezpieczny, wolny od dodatków innych szkodliwych substancji chemicznych surowiec dla produkcji leków ziołowych, istnieje paląca potrzeba wdrożenia sposobów uprawy roślin leczniczych spójnych z zasadami dobrej praktyki rolniczej.