The Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Women Work Participation in Pakistan: Evidence from Bahawalpur District

The analysis of labour market participation is useful for formulating employment and human resource development policies. Females form almost more than half of the total population in Pakistan play a very important role in the country. The present study endeavors to estimate the various factors which affect the women work participation. The study is based on the cross-section data collected through field survey. The logistic regression technique is employed to estimate the determinants of female labour force participation. Educational attainment levels turn out to be very significant determinant. Female’s labour force participation rises with increasing level of education. Presence of children in early age groups reduces the female labour force participation. The results of the study conclude that female education is necessary for better employment opportunities.Female labor force participation; Female education; Household Income; Family Dependents; Marital Status; Children; Logit Model; Pakistan

Allelopathy and Agricultural Sustainability: Implication in weed management and crop protection—an overview

Crop plants have defined roles in agricultural production and feeding the world. They are affected by several environmental and biological stresses, which range from soil salinity, drought, and climate change to exposure to diverse plant pathogens. These stresses pose risk to agricultural sustainability. To avoid the increasing biotic and abiotic pressure on crop plants, agrochemicals are extensively used in agriculture for attaining desirable yield and production of crops. However, the use of agrochemicals is also challenging the integrity of ecosystems. Thus, to maintain the integrity of ecosystem, sustainable measures for elevated crop production are required. Allelopathy, a process of chemical interactions between plants and other organisms, could be used in the management of several biotic and abiotic stresses if the basic mechanisms of the phenomena and plants with allelopathic potentials are known. Allelopathy has a promising future for its application in agriculture for natural weed management, improving soil health and suppressing plant diseases. The aim of this review is to discuss the importance of allelopathy in agriculture and its role in sustainability with a specific focus on weed management and crop protection

Co-inoculation with Rhizobium and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for inducing salinity tolerance in mung bean under field condition of semi arid climate

Salinity stress severely affects the growth, nodulation and yield of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). However, its growth can be improved under salinity stress by inoculation/co-inoculation with rhizobia and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) containing 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase enzyme. ACC-deaminase containing bacteria regulate the stress induced ethylene production by hydrolyzing the ACC (immediate precursor of ethylene) into ammonia and ketobutyric acid, thus improve plant growth by lowering the ethylene level. A study was conducted under salt affected field conditions where pre-isolated strains of Rhizobium and PGPR were used alone as well as in combination for mitigating the salinity stress on growth, nodulation and yield of mung bean by following the randomized complete block design (RCBD). The data were recorded and analyzed statistically to see the difference among treatments

PENERAPAN METODE TRANSFORMASI DIFERENSIAL RICCATI PADA SISTEM DINAMIK DUA KENDALI WAKTU BERHINGGA

Tugas akhir ini membahas tentang penerapan metode transformasi diferensial Riccati pada persamaan linier kuadratik dengan dua kendali waktu berhingga. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan fungsi kendali. Berdasarkan fungsi dinamik dan fungsi tujuan dibentuk persamaan diferensial Riccati.Solusi dari persamaan diferensial Riccati didapat menggunakan metode transformasi diferensial. Selanjutnya solusi dari persamaan diferensial Riccati tersebut berfungsi untuk menghasilkan fungsi kendali baru. Dari pembahasan yang telah dilakukan penulis dapat menyimpulkan bahwa metode transformasi diferensial Riccati bisa diterapkan pada masalah kendali dan menghasilkan fungsi kendali yang baru. Katakunci: Fungsi dinamik, ,fungsi kendali, persamaan diferensial Riccati,transformasi diferensi

EVALUATION OF LEAD TOLERANT PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA FOR PLANT GROWTH AND PHYTOREMEDIATION IN LEAD CONTAMINATION

The present study was conducted to evaluate five pre-characterized lead tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: Pseudomonas gessardii strain BLP141 (S2), Pseudomonas fluorescens A50 (S5), Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a (S6), Pseudomonas stutzeri strain 28a24 (S8) and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LMG 2189 (S10), for their plant growth promotion, phytoremediation potential and physiological response on Helianthus annuus L. as test crop, exposed to different lead concentrations (300, 600 and 900 mg/kg). Crop was harvested after 30 days of sowing and data regarding growth parameters (root shoot length, root shoot fresh and dry weights), physiological attributes (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and substomatal CO2), and lead content in root and shoot of sunflower, were recorded. Results revealed that lead contamination decreased the growth and physiological attributes of plants at all levels of lead stress; however inoculation with lead tolerant rhizobacteria reversed the toxic effect of lead on the plants and improved the growth and physiological attributes of sunflower in lead contamination, as compared to plants grown in the un-inoculated lead contaminated treatments. Among the five isolates, S2, S5 and S10 promoted more growth, improving the physiological attributes and phytoremediation potential of plants at all levels of contamination as compared to plants grown in lead stress without inoculation.The present study was conducted to evaluate five pre-characterized lead tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: Pseudomonas gessardii strain BLP141 (S2), Pseudomonas fluorescens A50 (S5), Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a (S6), Pseudomonas stutzeri strain 28a24 (S8) and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LMG 2189 (S10), for their plant growth promotion, phytoremediation potential and physiological response on Helianthus annuus L. as test crop, exposed to different lead concentrations (300, 600 and 900 mg/kg). Crop was harvested after 30 days of sowing and data regarding growth parameters (root shoot length, root shoot fresh and dry weights), physiological attributes (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and substomatal CO2), and lead content in root and shoot of sunflower, were recorded. Results revealed that lead contamination decreased the growth and physiological attributes of plants at all levels of lead stress; however inoculation with lead tolerant rhizobacteria reversed the toxic effect of lead on the plants and improved the growth and physiological attributes of sunflower in lead contamination, as compared to plants grown in the un-inoculated lead contaminated treatments. Among the five isolates, S2, S5 and S10 promoted more growth, improving the physiological attributes and phytoremediation potential of plants at all levels of contamination as compared to plants grown in lead stress without inoculation

Effects of Peaches and Apricots Market on People’s Living Standards of Shakar Dara District of Kabul Province

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s economy. Nearly 50% of the population generate income from agriculture, which accounts for 25% of the country\u27s GDP (World Bank 2015). We learned there is little research on Afghanistan\u27s fruits market system and agri-business. This study aims to analyze the market of peaches and apricots in the Shakar Dara district of Kabul province. No information about their origins in Afghanistan is available regarding the history of peaches (Prunus persica) and apricots (Prunus armeniaca). However, the country grows a wide variety of peaches and apricots. A total of 6 percent of Afghanistan’s farmers earn a living from apricots only; after grapes, almonds, and pistachios, apricots rank fourth in terms of perennial yields, thus making it one of the most important crops for the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL). Some 185 farmers have been questioned in the Shakar Dara district of Kabul province. We learned that the farmers want to invest in the establishment of peach orchards in order to generate revenue. The soil and climate are very appropriate for peach production, thus making this crop one of their primary sources of income. The farmers of the Shakar Dara district are skilled in traditional farming practices and managing their orchards. The farmers have access to pesticides at both the local and provincial markets and use a variety of soil fertilizers. A key component of the district\u27s irrigation system, the Shah Wa Aroos dam regulates flash floods. Additionally, a substantial portion of water for the district\u27s irrigation is supplied by the water reservoir. However, the canal system in the district can be further improved to support the district\u27s irrigation system better. In terms of the application of contemporary technology, the district\u27s residents continue to practice traditional farming, which results in a lower yield of fruits when considering the fertility and potential of the soil. Farmers must be equipped with training and awareness sessions for modern farming practices. Local labor is available for fruit packing and pruning. Fruits are transported to the provincial markets using the district\u27s transportation infrastructure. Shakar Dara district is accessible by paved roads connecting most villages near the paved road with provincial/central markets. High-quality fertilizers and disease control practices enable them to produce high-quality products for international markets

Influence of Nitrogen Timing and Levels on Yield and Yield Components of Canola

The experiment on response of nitrogen application timing and levels on yield and yield components of canola was conducted at New Developmental Farm the University Agriculture Peshawar, during Rabi season 2013-2014. The experiment consist of three timing (full at sowing, split application and rosette stage) and levels 80 and 120kg N ha-¹ of nitrogen. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block with three replications. Canola Cultivar  Abasin-95 was used as testing crop. The results indicated that more number of branches plant-¹ (7), number of pods plant-¹ (276), grain pod-¹ (21), biological yield (3659kgha-1), grain yield (1337kg ha-1), thousand grain weight (4g) and harvest index (12%) were significantly affected except number of branches plant-1. Split application were proved more effective as compared  full at sowing or rosette stage of both nitrogen levels 80 and 120kg N ha-1 to obtain higher yield in agro- ecological conditions of Peshawar. Keywords: Nitrogen, full sowing, rosette stage and canola cultivars

Vehicle Crash Avoidance Modelling and Simulation Using Artificial Neural Network Approach

The objectives of this project are to study kinematics of vehicles in crash avoidance maneuvers, to model and simulate vehicles in crash avoidance scenarios in Matlab Simulink environment, and also to develop crash avoidance algorithm utilizing artificial neural network approach. The problem that leads to the development of this project is that accidents happened mostly caused by human error, in which traffic delays and congestion can eventually take place. The project involves a preliminary study on the simulation of changinglane and also merging into highwaytraffic. This project consists of two main components, which represents the method. The first component is whereby studying of vehicle kinematics in crash avoidance maneuvers is done. The second component is the process of modeling and simulation of crash avoidance scenarios in Matlab Simulink environment. Based on the project that is to be done, the accidents caused by lane changing and merging can be avoided through the design of intelligent vehicle and intelligent highway. As a conclusion, the results ofthis paper could be used to investigate on how to improve the safety of lane changingmaneuversand to provide warnings or take evasive actions to avoid collision when combined with appropriate hardware on board vehicles