Pakistan to face 31% water shortage by 2025 FAISALABAD: Water shortage in Pakistan will increase to 31% of people’s needs by 2025 and this underlines the need for some tangible steps, including water usage charges and building of storages, to cope with the problem. These were the views of speakers at a seminar arranged by the […]
Special Collections Agriculture Agriculture may be distinguished from horticulture in that agriculture connotes the cultivation of food crops on a large-scale, commercial basis, often including the raising of livestock. The line of demarcation between these two allied fields is far from distinct: the private gardener may market surplus products from the garden commercially, while the […]
Sustainable agriculture and fertilizer practices in Pakistan Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy. It has a total area of 79.61 million hectare, and the total area used for crop production is only 22 million ha. Of which about 18 million ha (80 percent) are irrigated. Pakistan agriculture accounts for 24 percent of the growth […]
PAKISTAN – DISCOVER THE POTENTIAL Pakistan has been blessed by nature in the form of a very fertile land whose bounties have been enjoyed by its people for the past 63 years. These resources, some hidden like treasures under the soil and some requiring tilling of land to bring them up, have made an enormous […]
The Mining of Precious Minerals in Pakistan In nominal terms, Pakistan’s economy is the 47th largest economy in the world but in the terms of Purchasing Power Parity, Pakistan is on number 27th. The economy of Pakistan is semi-industrialized which mainly encompasses chemicals, textile, food processing, agriculture, mining and many other industries. Just like the textile […]
The Pakistan water quality crisis Water is essential for the survival of all living things. Without water, humans would die in a few days, crops would not grow and food would run short. Access to clean water is as important as access to water itself. The health and economic effects of polluted water are well-documented. […]
Watermelon A member of the Cucumber family, native to tropical Africa, the watermelon needs a long, dry growing season. Soil, for good watermelons, should be light, fertile, deep, and well drained. A pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is preferred. Preparing the planting bed Soil preparation should begin the fall before planting. At that time, turn […]
Growing Watermelon in the Home Garden History Africa is considered to be the native home of the watermelon. It was found growing wild by Livingstone in 1854. On the American continent, watermelons were grown as early as 1629 in Massachusetts, and prior to 1664 in Florida. Climate The watermelon is tender to frost and requires […]
Cattle Breeds in Pakistan Cattle belong to the family Bovidae. European cattle are non-humped and belong to the species Bos taurus, while the cattle found in Pakistan are humped and belong to the species Bos indicus. Cattle belong to the family Bovidae. European cattle are non-humped and belong to the species Bos taurus, while the cattle found in Pakistan are humped and […]
Corn Rootworms Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte Northern Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence Southern Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber Appearance and Life History Male (left) and Female (right) western corn rootworms Photo by B. Christine Corn rootworms are important insect pest of corn in the Midwest. Two species of rootworms that may cause severe damage to […]
Western Corn Rootworm Quick Facts… Western corn rootworm larvae feed on root hairs and small roots; larger rootworms feed on primary roots. Crop rotation is the most consistent and economical means of controlling western corn rootworm populations. Cultural practices that promote strong root systems and a vigorous crop will make corn more tolerant to rootworm […]
Corn: More Active Genes in Roots Mean Higher Yields Hybrid plants provide much higher yield than their homozygous parents. Plant breeders have known this for more than 100 years and used this effect called heterosis for richer harvests. Until now, science has puzzled over the molecular processes underlying this phenomenon. Researchers at the University of […]
Rice Cultivates Green Batteries from Plant Purpurin, left, extracted from madder root, center, is chemically lithiated, right, for use as an organic cathode in batteries. The material was developed as a less expensive, easier-to-recycle alternative to cobalt oxide cathodes now used in lithium-ion batteries. Here’s a reason to be glad about madder: The climbing plant […]
Quantifying Corn Rootworm Damage Every year farmers spend a lot of money trying to control corn rootworm larvae, which are a significant threat to maize production in the United States and, more recently, in Europe. University of Illinois researchers have been working on validating a model for estimating damage functions. Nicholas Tinsley, a doctoral candidate […]
Fertile Soil Doesn’t Fall from the Sky Remains of dead bacteria have far greater meaning for soils than previously assumed. The electron micrograph shows bacteria (Hyphomicrobium sp.; Yellow) growing up partly on solid surfaces, floors and sediment grains. During growth whatsoever cells die and deformed or fragmenting cell envelopes remain. Small-scale fragments of these shells […]
Rice Uses Light to Remotely Trigger Biochemical Reactions Chemical processes can be activated by light without the need for bulk heating of a material through a process developed by researchers at Rice University. The technique involves coating nanorods with thermophilic enzymes that are activated at high temperatures. Lighting the plasmonic gold nanorod causes highly localized […]
Farm Soil Determines Environmental Fate of Phosphorous Just 20 years ago, the soils of the Amazon basin were thought unsuitable for large-scale agriculture, but then industrial agriculture — and the ability to fertilize on a massive scale — came to the Amazon. A rhea looks out among the thriving soybean plants in a field in […]
Using Their Genes Against Them: Fighting Insect Pests with Genetic Targeting When you look out on a golden-yellow field of oilseed rape you might not think you’re seeing a battleground, but crops including oilseed rape, wheat, potato and tomato are engaged in a constant fight with pests and disease, trying to stay one step ahead. […]
Benefits and Variety of Strawberry in Pakistan! Strawberry is well-known as the most appetizing and very nutritive fruit. According to agricultural experts, it has enormous dietetic value and one of the potential sources of protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamin. In Pakistan, it is consumed in fresh form as well as in processed form for making squashes, […]
Strawberry cultivation Pakistan is producing a limited quantity of strawberries which are either eaten or used in preparing ice-cream, jam, jelly, pickle, cake or milk shake. The fruit fetches Rs100 to Rs120 per kg in big cities. The wholesale price of the fruit comes down to Rs 50 per kg during the second fortnight of […]