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Endophytic bacteria involve in the production as well as regulation of phytohormones and siderophore and have more capacity to tolerate environmental stresses in a better way when compared with rhizosphere bacteria. A study was planned to check the capacity of endophytic microorganism to improve the growth of maize and wheat crop. Total 35 endophytic microorganism have been isolated from plant tissues out of which 20 were characterized on the basis on biochemical tests and Indole acetic acid production. Efficient 15 isolates were screened and 5 isolates were selected for field study. Field study of wheat and maize was directed at the Soil Bacteriology Section AARI Faisalabad. Recommended dose of fertilizer (NP @ 100:60 kg/ha & NPK @ 120:114:90 kg ha-1) for maize and wheat crop was applied. Results showed that inoculation with bacterial isolates confirmed great increase in yield compared to control. It was noted that the highest fodder yield (70.5 t ha-1) in case of maize and the highest grain yield (4030 kg ha-1) produced by endophytic bacteria E-3. The use of specific endophytes may be considered preferable as compared to rhizospheric bacteria as well as over the use of chemical fertilizers due to their beneficial impact on environment costs, contributing to more sustainable agricultural systems.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF040101

The aims of this study were to develop iron and zinc fortified chickpea energy bars and check their effect on cognitive development specifically working memory of the Pre-adolescent. We conducted analysis in twenty-four students from the private school of Faisalabad (Pakistan). Warises’re subtests such as arithmetic, digit-span and coding were checked through Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) were done. The evaluation of serum iron and zinc level of the children before and after the trial confirmed that the fortification induced a 3.31% increase in the serum iron level followed by 2.25% increase in the serum zinc level of school going children. There was an increase of 3.50 in the mean squares of the working memory index after the administration of fortified chickpea bars. This accentuates that fortification improved specific cognitive abilities among children including working memory. The fortification of chickpea is likely source of vitamins and minerals. Chickpeas enhance the iron absorption in the body by making it more bioavailable. This study concludes that chickpea fortification with iron and zinc can serve as an economical and healthy approach in combating learning difficulties and cognitive problems that school-going children undergo.

doi.org/10.52587/JAF040102

A study was undertaken on Thalli sheep to evaluate the non-genetic factors affected on animal’s birth weight in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Non-genetic factors along with genetic factors are important influential factors in determining the performance of animals. Data on 239 lambing records were analyzed using Statistix 8.1 software. The average birth weights calculated were 3.40 ± 3.34 kg. Significant effects of birth weight were observed by environmental factors like birth type, flock, sex of lamb, and year of birth. Non-significant i.e. (P>0.06) values were observed throughout the study for the season of birth. Males were heavier than females according to their birth weights. Similarly, single-born lambs have more body weight than of twins.

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF040104

Sixty F3 progenies of sunflower were evaluated in department of plant breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha. Eight yield related phenological traits viz., seed yield head-1(SYP), days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), oil contents (OC), 100-seed weight (100-SW), head diameter (HD), plant height (PH) and leaf area (LA) were analyzed for genetic variability, correlation to estimate association between traits and biplot analysis for genotypes by trait interaction. ANOVA results showed that all the F3 progenies had significant difference for all the traits studied. Coefficients of genotypic and phenotypic correlation showed that SYP had significant and positive correlation with DTM, DTF, HD, 100-SW and PH. Oil contents were negatively correlated with DTF, DTM, 100-SW. 100 seeds weight (100-SW) showed highly significant and positive correlation with DTF and DTM by genotypically while significant positive at phenotypic level. Progenies A-50 and A-58 were prominent due to their highest SYP and 100-SW and A-12 and A-26 had the highest HD and DTF while progeny A-30 had the lowest DTF and DTM and could be selected due to early maturing traits. Keywords: achene, oil contents, phenological development, genetic variability

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF040104

Intercropping of a leguminous crop in non-legume affects its nitrogen dynamics. Field research was conducted at the farm area of College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha. To understand whether soybean intercropping alters the nitrogen use efficiency, yield and quality of sunflower, a field study was conducted at College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan during spring, 2022. Treatments were varying N application rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1). A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. Hysun-33 and NARC-21 were the hybrids of sunflower and soybean, respectively. Soybean rows were spaced 30 cm apart whereas sunflower row spacing was 60 cm. In each plot, 4 rows of sunflower were altered by 3 rows of soybean. Results revealed significant improvement in growth and yield of sunflower by increase in N application. The highest N level (160 kg ha-1) resulted in the highest number of days (114.7) the sunflower crop took to reach maturation. The same treatment attained the highest plant height (214.5 cm), leaves per plant (27.5), leaf area index (4.39), head diameter (25 cm) and biological yield (14789 kg ha-1), number of achenes per head (1586), 1000-achene weight (51.25 g), harvest index (16.94%), achene yield (2395 kg ha-1) and oil yield (872.0 kg ha-1). The highest nitrogen use efficiency (7.2 kg kg-1) of sunflower was calculated at 80 kg ha-1 N level. It can be concluded that for getting the highest yield of sunflower crop along with soybean intercrop, farmer should use 160 kg ha-1 nitrogen. However, in soybean intercropping system, the maximum yield benefit of sunflower per unit of nitrogen applied was the highest at 80 kg nitrogen per ha.

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF040105